Maitland councillors approved an application at Tuesday night’s ­meeting for the subdivision to take place by next April.

But some Farley residents have raised concerns that the narrow underpass would become more ­dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists when the subdivision attracts more traffic to the area.

The Australian Rail and Track Corporation is expected to complete upgrades to the underpass by late 2017.

But Farley resident Dr Estella Lowe said it would be a matter of time before a tragedy occurred at the site.

“I do my sums and I get one year and nine months of increased construction and work traffic through a criminally narrow underpass, to up the chances that one of our kids is going to get hit. Not only hit, but smashed into the brick wall,” she said.

“Any increase in traffic is too much.”

Dr Lowe said she believed safety at the underpass had been dismissed as a non issue.

“The decision to approve this DA at this time is a decision to increase traffic at an already seriously ­hazardous location,” she said.

“Such a decision would be ­ethically, morally and, dare I say, legally bankrupt.”

Councillors voted in favour of the subdivision, after they expressed concerns about safety at the railway underpass.

Cr Peter Garnham said, even though not everyone was happy with the proposed subdivision, he believed it was a good outcome for Maitland’s residential landscape.

Cr Steve Procter said he was ­concerned about the issues that Dr Lowe had raised, but that the subdivision had to go ahead.

Cr Ken Wethered said he was concerned that upgrades to the underpass would be continually put off.

But general manager David Evans said he believed starting the development would put more pressure on the ARTC to deliver the upgrades.