The comments are near-unanimous in rejecting the proposal over concerns about the impact of traffic brought about by 82 apartments proposed.

While the developer says traffic concerns would be alleviated, residents say the extra 550 vehicle movements at each morning and evening peak would be calamitous.

Read more: Controversial $60 million plan for Thirroul

"Comments made on social media platforms about developments on exhibition are not monitored by council planning officers and are not considered as submissions," a council spokesman said.

"However, the Planning Alerts platform converts each posted comment into a formal submission which is sent to council's records as a submission to the relevant development application. These are treated as any other submission received during the notification period and is acknowledged by email from council.

"Comments raised in submissions, including those that originated from the Planning Alerts platform, are then considered in the assessment of the development application (DA).

"Where an application is determined by the Wollongong Local Planning Panel or the Southern Regional Planning Panel, issues raised in submissions are discussed in the assessment report and the panel is provided with all submissions for its consideration." Many of the comments support redevelopment of the shops, but not 82 units.

The plan would generate about "564 AM peak hour vehicle trips, 555 PM peak hour vehicle trips and 734 weekend peak hour vehicle trips," the DA states.