THE only site for the Marine Education Centre is Te Raekaihau Point, says Wellington Marine Conservation Trust founding member Judy Hutt.

The "aquarium" proposal has been scheduled for a second resource consent hearing after the first hearing was tied. South Coast residents’ group Save The Point Inc were the main objectors to the proposal. They do not oppose the centre, but do not want it to be built on that site. Insisting on Te Raekaihau Point could cost the project hundreds of thousands of dollars in hearing fees and a likely appeal to the Enviroment Court.

"We are not considering another site for this project. It is all about the Te Raekaihau Point site," says Hutt.

Thirteen sites were initially considered by the Trust. Five in the Wellington harbour area including The Overseas Terminal, Queen’s Wharf and Shelley Bay, and eight South Coast sites including Owhiro Bay, Maranui Quarry and of course Te Raekaihau Point.

Twenty different criteria were used to rank the sites, from 1–5.

Te Raekaihau Point gained a score of 89, followed by Maranui Quarry on 74, Shorland Park on 70 and Owhiro Bay on 65.

"There isn’t just one reason why Te Raekaihau was chosen," Wellington Marine Conservation Trust Grant Macaskill says.

"Te Raekaihau was ranked 5 in that it didn’t have any rare or endangered plant life, it was ranked 5 on size of the site, ownership, sea quality, space for parking, public safety, traffic safety, that it is not of historical significance, and due to its lack of proximity to residents," Macaskill says.

Save The Point’s deputy chairman Nick Dryden says the group’s primary objection to the development at Te Raekaihau Point is that the natural environment will be compromised.

"It is a very prominent, natural headland that is undeveloped and the development would compromise the natural area. How can they say they are building this massive development on this beautiful natural coast in order to teach us respect for this natural coast?" Dryden asks.

Meanwhile the Wellington City Council has agreed to provide a $200,000 guarantee if the Trust cannot raise enough funds for an Environment Court appeal after a resource consent verdict is reached. The strategy and policy committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of the guarantee and the decision will go to a full council meeting next week.