International Port Delay

A major delay for the proposed international port in Southport. The project could be on hold for another year. According to published reports, the Federal Government did not allocate money for a crucial feasibility study. And they won't be able to work it into the budget until next year. That means the project will be put on hold until then. Reports say the study will cost around $200,000, which will be allocated into the 2008 budget. Overall, officials say the port will cost around one billion dollars and will take about ten years to build. That means, at the earliest, the port will not be finished until 2018. The port will be located on a 600-acre tract of land about fourteen miles from the ocean. Ports CEO Tom Eagar says once it's built, the port will bring thousands of jobs and millions of dollars to the State and make it a major player in the shipping industry. Despite the latest delay, officials are saying it is not a major setback. It is simply a bump in the road for a large-scale project like this.