More than 400 residents have signed a petition against the development.

Chief among concerns were increased traffic, the effect on property prices and lack of community consultation.

Shaft Tavern owner Geoff Byrne said residents were worried their suburb would change.

‘‘We don’t want to end up like Lakemba where there are thousands of people going to worship shutting down the whole suburb,’’ Mr Byrne said.

Resident Chris Vale said he realised there was a growing Muslim population but did not want a mosque in his street.

‘‘I would be just as unhappy if a church was put up in the street – we don’t need the traffic problem,’’ he said.

‘‘Houses are going up for sale in the street already.’’

Councillor Bob Cook said he was attending the meeting to hear residents’ concerns.

But the council is not the consent authority for the development.

A Joint Regional Planning Panel will determine the proposal at a date to be determined.

Cr Cook said it was common for large-scale developments to go to a panel and the council would normally put forward their position.

Diana Rah of the Newcastle Muslim Association said she understood residents’ concerns but did not believe the mosque would bring high density traffic or affect property prices.

‘‘We gather at off-peak times. The main time for worship is Friday between 1pm and 2pm,’’ she said.

‘‘There will be some extra traffic and we have employed traffic consultants to get right into those details.’’

The proposed development includes construction of a mosque, a three-bedroom house, a funeral ceremony building, a two-storey car park and a community hall on a 8300-square-metre block opposite the Elermore Vale Shopping Centre on Croudace Road, costing $6million.

Development plans are on public exhibition until Wednesday.