A $110-million resort and residential community for north Long Island is hoping to obtain planning approval by next Easter, with the groundbreaking happening by autumn 2008.

The British developers of the proposed Port St. George investment plan to use available land in the Stella Maris area for the construction of the project, which will include an 18-hole signature golf course and a marina. Construction completion is scheduled for 2015.

Plans for the development were outlined to Long Islanders at a town meeting at the government high school in Simms, on November 27, 2007.

The proposed developers also announced plans for another resort for the Stella Maris area - Caribbean Heights – which together with Port St. George will open opportunities for hundreds of jobs. both during the . construction and post-construction phases.

More than 400 persons attended, and many questions- - were asked on issues such as dredging, road elevation, antiquities, solid waste and the reconfiguration of the Queen's Highway. Ian Moorcroft, a director of Port St George, said: "We are in the planning stages. We hope to get approval by next Easter." He told Long Islanders that the developers are hoping to break ground by autumn 2008.

Keith Bishop, of Islands By Design, said he had been engaged to do the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), and reported that he saw a number of areas that needed redesign. Sidney Collie, minister of lands and local government, assured Long Islanders that "no significant investment" will come to these islands without the Government coming directly to the people, "and as clearly and as concisely as possible,apprise the people of the proposed investment".

He added that "before the first soil is turned and the first brick is laid, you would know what is coming to your island and whether you welcome such investment".

Earl Deveaux, minister of public works and transport, said the airport at Stella Maris was undergoing expansion, and work would soon begin to complete the terminal building and meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards for international security.

He said Long Island will shortly have an improved Stella Maris airport in the north to accommodate the proposed development.
Mr Deveaux emphasised that "it is not likely we will have enough space in the north for a 7,000-foot runway, but we will accommodate short-haul aircraft. In the partnership that we seek to develop in Long Island, if you need a longer airport we will invite you to Deadman's Cay".

The minister said the Government intends to complete the dock in Long Island. He added: "It is my duty to tell you that we have selected a spot in Long Island we feel could accommodate the year-round dockage, the low maintenance of the sand movement and deep water sheltered harbour. We are looking at the area where BEC (the Bahamas Electricity Corporation) currently is, so we have room for long-term expansion."We will go to bids as soon as the designs are completed on that dock."

Mr Deveaux told Long Islanders that as a result of the recent passage of Tropical Storm Noel, "we have had to re-prioritise our road infrastructure".He indicated that Long Island was already high on the schedule for sea walls construction, repairs to the dock at Simms and additional infrastructure works.

He said the Government now has before it a list of Family Island roads "so that we can make some choices in the sense that Cat Island, Long Island and Exuma had exceptionally high flooding and unexpected damage to their roads. We had to shift our priorities around so that we could accommodate repairs as a result of the flooding."

Larry Cartwright, minister of agriculture and marine resources, who is the MP for Long Island, said: "I believe that Port St. George will be something great for Long Island. And, based on what I have heard over the last few weeks and the amount of excitement this has generated, I believe Long Islanders are now ready to accept Port St. George."

Source: The Tribune