Westridge Drive residents are wasting no time in letting Tauranga City Council know of their opposition to plans to consult on making a special Housing Area out of Smith's Farm.

Smith's farm options are being consulted.

Residents are particularly opposed to council using Westridge Drive as access, residents Linton Heatley, Doug Hendry and Baden Prentice told councillors during the public forum at Thursday's council meeting.

The additional traffic from 180-240 homes turning right out of Westridge Drive in the mornings will considerably slow traffic on Cambridge Road and make the intersection more dangerous than it is at present, says resident Linton Heatley.

Resident Doug Hendry says access through Richards Way, which opens onto Cambridge Road on the bend near St Andrews Drive, is shorter and less heavily trafficked than the Cambridge road-Moffat Road section.

Linton called for a separation; distance, an earth bank, trees, a cycle way, or all of the above between the sub-divisions.

Tauranga City Councillors are formally proceeding with public consultation on the proposal to look at a special housing area from Smiths Farm, vacant land adjacent to the Tauriko toll road.

Detailed consultation information is available online no later than Tuesday, October 27.

A public open day has been confirmed for Thursday, November 5, from 3pm-7pm at Bethlehem's Tauranga Adventist School at 19 Moffat Road.

The land totals 41.7ha between Cambridge Road and Takitimu Drive. It was previously earmarked for new sports field's development but is now surplus to sports field's requirements.

Council is considering fast-tracking urban development in the Smith's Farm area by establishing some of the Rural Residential land as a Special Housing Area, allowing for suburban residential development.

Council proposes to sell part of the Smiths Farm land, regardless of whether it proceeds as a Special Housing Area. Council has already consulted on this general proposal through the 2015-2025 Long Term Plan and is now seeking the community's specific thoughts about the proposed sale of the Smiths Farm site. The land may be sold either before or after its development. The public consultation will run until November 23.

Residents can send their feedback via email or by using the paper submission form available online. Copies of the consultation document and submission form will be available at Council's offices at 91 Willow Street and libraries starting Monday, October 26.

Copies of the consultation document, detailed information and submission forms will be mailed to residents in the vicinity of Smiths Farm no later than Tuesday, October 27, 2015.

A decision will be made about the Special Housing Area or sale of the land at a council meeting in December, after public feedback has been received and reviewed.

Councillor John Robson questioned the tight time frame for the consultation period with the decision on expected oat the last scheduled council meeting of the year on December 15.

'We can have council meetings at any time subject to the usual notices,” says John.

Government departments are on holiday over Christmas/New Year and he says that gives more time for the proposal to be discussed.