While Mark Wassung's ideas are great (page 9, The Weekend Sun, April 13) they are not based on common sense and practicability.

Local roads are drastically overloaded already. Mark's plan would see the whole district clogged unless roading and infrastructure were in place first.

There is no comparison between the two ports and their needs. Canaveral serves the navy and the public. Nearly three million tonnes of cargo goes through the port each year. An average of 10 cruise ships a day enter the port with close to three million passengers each year. So while it's nice to dream, let's keep our feet on the ground.

I know Mark says ratepayers wouldn't pay for the scheme, but they would. Infrastructure does not come free and TCC would become involved due to ‘unforeseen circumstances'.

Tauranga ratepayers are already overloaded with rates and cannot afford to pay increased rates to support this dream.

Tauranga needs a council of fiscal experts who can see into the future logically and carefully and not have elaborate dreams that will rate most of us out of our homes in the next five to 10 years. The people of Tauranga need to consider very carefully who they vote for in the by-election and the next full elections. Don't vote to be rated out of your house.

A Bourne, Bethlehem (Abridged).