Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) and CentrePort will not gift port land to the Wellington City Council for an Indoor Community Sports Centre.

Wellington City Council officers are exploring whether the Indoor Community Sports Centre could be located on CentrePort land north of Queen’s Wharf rather than Cobham Park in Kilbirnie. GWRC is the majority owner of CentrePort, on behalf of the regional community.

Although GWRC and CentrePort would like to see the stadium built there, neither are prepared to gift the land as requested by Mayor Kerry Prendergast in August.

CentrePort chairman, Nigel Gould, who is currently discussing whether the centre will fit on the designated port land with the CentrePort Board, says the Mayor must have a misconception of what CentrePort is about if she thinks it can be gifted.

"It’s a valuable piece of land and we cannot justify gifting the land," Gould says.

GWRC chairman Ian Buchanan agrees, but says it is the best location for the stadium.

"There’s no major concerns between GWRC and CentrePort about the site. The primary objective is that it doesn’t affect the current operations of CentrePort with regard to traffic and access in and out," Buchanan says.

Buchanan says a sports centre that is central to the city makes a lot of sense.

"The area is near the main stadium and the car parking available there. An obvious advantage is it is close to the railway station making it accessible for people all over the Wellington region."

Deputy Major Alick Shaw says he is not prepared to conduct negotiations with CentrePort and the Regional Council through the media.

"If there is no possibility of gifting I would be more interested in hearing it from them."

Shaw says if CentrePort will not gift the land: "We will take into account the money involved and make a decision. If the Regional Council is after payment then quantum is obviously an issue."