The plan follows reports showing an exponential growth in the area over the next 25 years.

The increase in population from 3500 to 11,000 will see Tea Gardens grow from a village to a town.

Great Lakes Council commissioned RoadNet to undertake an objective study.

In this study it was suggested Myall Way be bypassed with a new road constructed, joining Charles St to Limekilns Rd.

Residents are concerned about the effect the construction of a road would have on the wetlands.

“The proposed plan will have direct impacts on residents in the Witt St, Charles St, Maxwell St and Higgins Cl area,” local resident John Paterson said.

“The unmade Hagon St is covered with saltwater marsh and is an important buffer zone between residential development and the Myall River estuary,” Mr Paterson said.

The Myall River estuary was listed under the Ramsar Convention as a Wetland of International Importance in 1999.

A recent study commissioned by Great Lakes and Port Stephens Councils, Living on the Edge, Port Stephens Foreshore Management Plan, suggested councils consider purchasing the land because of its significance to the ecosystem and encourage private land owners to enter into agreements to protect foreshore vegetation.

“It may well be time that the council took the decision to remove the undeveloped Charles St and Hagon St from their map for good,” Mr Paterson said.

But a workshop held between residents, council members and RoadNet advisors in 2007 showed a preference for a bypass road to be constructed between the bridge and Myall Way.

Other ideas included the widening of Myall Way which was not supported due to the impact on properties along the street.

The Tea Gardens Future Traffic Management Plan is on show and once the public has commented it will be reassessed and further studies will be undertaken.

“There are other alternatives and we will be looking at them,” councils traffic engineer Wade Holms said.