As part of the proposed plans, a new two-lane 'ring road' will be developed stretching around the eastern and northern sides from Gordon Street to Rosamond Road.

The design will incorporate the first section of the 'no-through' Warrs Road, repositioning its entrance and exit on the ring road.

Management of Highpoint's owner, GPT, met about 25 residents last Friday to discuss the plans.

Residents expressed their confusion at the proposed changes.

"How are we to get out? We are going to be stuck.'' one resident said.

"At 5o'clock on a busy Saturday, we already can't get out of our properties.''

Another resident said: "I am getting insane now how much traffic is there, how much noise is there.

"You have to look at how many people live there. How much more pollution are we going to get with the cars?''

GPT proposed other options, including making Warrs Road accessible only to pedestrians and making the access point through Highpoint car parks, neither of which proved popular.

Residents put forward another possibility - closing the southern end of Warrs Road and opening it up to Raleigh Road in the north - which GPT management and Maribyrnong Council representatives said they would consider.

There were also complaints about the multi-storey car park to be developed along the ring road.

''We will be next door to a concrete jungle,'' a resident said. "They will be looking into our bedrooms.''

GPT spokesman Damien O'Connor said the process would take almost two years to complete.

"We are being open. Getting the right access point is crucial. We want to ensure we get the right solution.''

Mr O'Connor said nearby residents were just as important at shoppers.

"These people are our community, they are our customers.''

Several of the residents at the meeting were planning to object by Friday.