It was planned that the remaining animals would eventually be relocated to marine zoos and parks in Australia.
Mrs Otto and members of the Friends of Marineland group had brought up the subject of preparing a feasibility study when they met Napier Mayor Bill Dalton and chief executive Wayne Jack in early December.
She said the idea was accepted but she was still awaiting assurance the animals would not be shipped off while any study was being carried out, as they were an integral part of creating a new look and fresh start for the facility.
As part of sweeping changes to a large stretch of the Marine Parade the council announced it planned to revamp the site into an upgraded skatebowl and scootering adventure centre.
Mrs Otto said John Secombe, who is based in Auckland with Aquahort and is seen as an aquatic industry expert, had offered to visit the site to carry out a full inspection and compile a report into infrastructure.
A report carried out in 2008 by LHT Design Engineering Solutions noted that the older pools had to be considered to be at the end of their useful life, in their present form.
The report also stated "there is a regular replacement programme for pumps, valves etc and the plant is all seen as being in a good condition provided this regular maintenance and replacement is continued".
Mr Dalton said there had been a deterioration of the pipework, however.
During a meeting with Mrs Otto and her daughters, who form the Marineland Rangers, he said the idea of a wildlife centre was a good one, but that the old Marineland site was unlikely to be the location for such a facility.
