Photo: Dominion Post
It's an idea that's endured almost a century.
Since at least 1931 moving the South Island inter-island ferry port from Picton to Clifford Bay has been periodically floated and rejected.
The latest bid - dubbed the North South Express - has been submitted to the government's investment agency and comes more than a decade after the previous bid was quashed.
For its proponents, the advantages of Clifford Bay are clear - its location offers a more direct, and faster run between the North and South Islands.
So far, the government's dismissed the proposal and last week a large upgrade began at Picton's wharf, ahead of the arrival of new Interislander ferries in 2029.
What's the proposal?
CB Port Limited - the company behind an iwi and construction consortium promoting the North South Express - is seeking a public-private partnership for a multi-use ferry terminal at Clifford Bay.
The port would be privately funded at an estimated cost of $900 million, but the groups wants Crown money and cooperation for the necessary connecting road and rail infrastructure.
CB Port spokesperson Stephen Grice said the advantages of Clifford Bay,
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