The proposed development was announced last week, despite the fact that no formal plans have been lodged with Cessnock City Council.

If approved, the mosque and small funeral home will be built on a rural property along Buchanan Road.

The design does not include the traditional minarets and the association said there would be no call to prayer made from the site.

Despite the transparency, there has been a mixed reaction from both Buchanan residents and the wider community.

East Maitland resident Paul Moylan said the community did not want or need a mosque.

Crystal Maree Norden from Kurri Kurri shared this view when she said there was no way she would want the development to go through.

On social media, the debate over the Buchanan mosque has drawn a collective of people who speak against the Islamic faith in general but many residents have been quick to slam any prejudicial statements.

“Muslims are human beings that should be free to practice their religion anywhere, the same as Christians, Buddhists, etc,” Bronwyn Swart Kroon wrote.

“Why oh why in this day and age where we have a world of knowledge at our fingertips are people still confusing Muslims with terrorists?”

A protest group has also popped up on social media since the announcement.

The anti-mosque contingent has more than 200 members, but the group’s online platform does not define the reasons they are protesting against the development.

Cessnock councillors had a briefing about the development last week and neighbours have been informed of the Newcastle Muslim Association’s intentions for the site.

The prayer space is expected the attract 200 people on a Friday between noon and 3pm, and this will increase to 450 people during annual religious festivals.

A development application is expected to be lodged in November.