Deputy mayor Kelvin Clout is heading off the critics by fast-tracking an investigation into making development land available in Tauriko.

Kelvin led the charge this week after moving the recommendation that potentially sets the city council against its neighbours over how development land is allocated.

Deputy mayor Kelvin Clout has spoken Tauranga's housing affordability issues.

The issue surrounds Bob Clarkson's 250ha-plus of greenfield land that he's been keen to develop in Tauriko for the last four years.

For some reason, Bob's land is overlooked in the SmartGrowth settlement pattern review - an agreement between the city, the western BOP district and Bay of Plenty Regional councils over where the next development will take place.

Meanwhile Tauranga's main area of development is at Tauriko, along the city's western corridor and right past Bob's land which is on both sides of the city/district council borders.

Kelvin moved the motion directing city council staff to report back to council before November 20, with a timetable for fast-tracking additional greenfield land outside the review process and timeframes.

And to support high-level land use, planning and development for both residential and industrial development is being undertaken along the western corridor of the future SH29.

The motion was supported seven to three.

'All I'm trying to do is speed that process up because we do have a housing affordability issue in Tauranga and I believe that we have a potentially immanent shortage of industrial land,” says Kelvin today.

'And I'm also for promoting a bit of competition in the market place, so these are not exactly difficult concepts to comprehend. But there is this process we have to go through. I'm trying to cut through some of the bureaucracy.”

Regardless of Bob's support for him during the local body elections, he would be pushing the changes anyway, says Kelvin.

'I know there's been a few rumblings that Bob supported me in my campaign, but I'm keen to see the Tauriko block developed for the betterment of Tauranga.

'It's been going on for about four years. The current city plan and the land zoning is very tightly proscribed, and it's all agreed though SmartGrowth partnership.”

Kelvin sent an email out on Wednesday stating he understands there may be some conjecture in the marketplace that because Bob Clarkson supported him in the 2013 election campaign, that he is beholden to Bob.

'In response, I wish to make the following remarks:

'I am grateful that Mr Clarkson supported my campaign, both financially, and in the media pre-election.

'His financial contribution was less than the threshold for separate individual disclosure under the Local Electoral Act.

'Mr Clarkson did not indicate any strings attached to his donation and is happy that I disclose his donation at this time.

'I feel no sense of conflict of interest and I have no previous or current business dealings with Mr Clarkson.

'I make up my own mind when deciding what is best for Tauranga City, issue by issue, and my support for the development of his land in Tauriko is based on its own merits.”