During the last local body election campaign, some candidates tried to make a big thing about dolphins.
Frankly it was a diversion. Dolphins are not an option for Napier’s Marineland at this stage.
Neither is leaving Napier’s Marineland as it is, an option at this stage. Despite the efforts of a dedicated, hard working and enthusiastic staff, Napier’s Marineland is a disgrace. It is a glaring example of a council owned asset that has not had a maintenance budget to allow the facilities to be kept up to scratch.
There are now only two options for Marineland. One is to put a bulldozer through the lot and turn the site into a garden.
The other, is to spend sufficient funds to convert the basic infrastructure of Marineland to an attraction that Napier can be proud of – perhaps some other kind of Marine Park.
I am firmly in the do it up and do it properly camp.
The problem is that public opinion has been side tracked by the dolphins/no dolphins debate. Forget about dolphins. Marineland has large tanks and pools that can be put to other uses. It has the pumping systems – the drainage systems – the grandstand – the shop – sure it all needs a major smarten up but the basic infrastructure is there.
The problem is – it all looks like an industrial plant. It is simply not an attraction in the true sense of the word.
Marineland sits on one of the prime sites in Napier. On the Marine Parade – easy walking from the CBD – just down the road from the i-site, on the way to the aquarium. Properly developed, Marineland could once again be, not only a tourism facility that we could be proud of, but one that contributes to the city’s coffers as well.
Look at the Municipal theatre – once an embarrassment suffering from years of deferred maintenance. Ten years ago the decision was made to rebuild the theatre and now it is a major component in the city’s arts scene. Napier is now also firmly on the touring show calendar and we get to enjoy the sort of shows that used to by-pass the city.
The people of Napier got behind the re-development of their theatre and they are going to have to get behind Marineland, if it is going to be transformed into a facility we can be proud of.
I for one think the re-development of Marineland is a project worth getting behind.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I agree with you Bill. Marineland should be redeveloped - minus the dolphins of course.
Although I am opposed to having dolphins in captivity, I confess that I signed the petition after Shona died. It was a very emotional reaction for me: her demise was more than the death of an animal, it sounded the death-knoll for Marineland, which had provided wonderful family entertainment and education to millions of happy visitors over the years.
Now in the clear light of day, I don’t support getting any more dolphins but do agree that we need to rethink a new, redeveloped Marineland.
My suggestion is that Council holds an information giving-gathering public meeting on the future of Marineland - based on the premise that we will NOT be seeking further dolphins - to show the range of options with costings and seek other ideas from the community.
Marineland belongs to ALL of Napier and I for one would appreciate knowing what ideas the public has on what we should do with it - and of course how we can pay for it!