Re: Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless reluctantly supports the proposal to build a supermarket at Welcome Bay on a council-owned reserve.

I go along with those who are criticising Tauranga City Council's involvement in actively promoting and canvasing a Welcome Bay supermarket.

This is a commercial decision for the food chains to determine the financial feasibility or otherwise of such a venture.

Suggested locations at Owens Park , Waipuna Park or Ohauiti Rd are fatuous while the Welcome Bay Community Centre site may be suitable. There's no problem in council selling off reserve land at full market value provided it is replaced with the same area of land in a nearby location that is fit for purpose.

All that aside, while I have no idea who owns the Welcome Bay Village Centre, a re-jig moving the tavern into the existing foodmarket and demolishing and rebuilding a supermarket on the tavern site would make a lot of sense and retain the village atmosphere. Be that as it may, Councillor Catherine Stewart is quite correct – it is not council's business to be in business!

Tauranga Mayor Brownless wonders aloud how council got involved in what is a business scenario. Well it arose as part of the 2016 election campaign floated by Welcome Bay councillors along with the 15th Avenue/Turret Rd widening spiel. So wonder no more Mayor, you should never have been so weak as to support this initiative; it shows a lack of backbone.

A warning to council, keep out of this business quagmire and let food chains spend money and float the various proposals.

R Paterson, Matapihi.