Laura Franklin, Editor
First proposed in the 1960s and finally under construction in 2000, the port development at Marsden Point has achieved such momentum that it is now being touted as the future "super port" for the entire country - and Northland stands to reap many benefits.
It was a lucky break
that the configuration of land and harbour provided a deep-water mooring capable of accommodating the growing global traffic in super-sized vessels.
Its natural attributes allow ships of 13m draft to berth - that's the maximum draft that Tauranga can accommodate at high water only, and deeper than the Port of Auckland can offer.
Now, with Auckland's waterfront being eyed for more city-friendly developments, with transport links in and out of the city hopelessly choked and with Tauranga equally congested, it makes perfect sense for the country to look North.
In contrast to those crowded city ports, Marsden Point is wide open for development.
Reports from those in the know indicate that the Government is now looking favourably on the potential of an international hub at Marsden Point - and it makes perfect sense.
What's required now is further action on the rail link that will complete the picture. It's been talked about for decades and has slowly begun to chug forward in the past five years.
Recent moves by the Northland Regional Council have seen $1m committed toward the designation process and negotiations underway for buying the land necessary along the 16km corridor from Oakleigh.
Ontrack, which controls and develops the country's rail networks, has already agreed to designate the corridor for the rail link once land talks are completed.
Quietly and steadily, the plan seems to be progressing.
Together with large industrial and residential developments already taking shape - and even bigger things on the drawing board, the wider Bream Bay area will be the place to watch in the years ahead.
And with new jobs during both the construction phases and operation of the rail link and port, economic opportunities for local people, plus the benefits of a railway line that would ease heavy-truck traffic on Northland roads, there are many positives that could flow from the port's potential.
