WAGGA would be part of a regional population corridor linked to Canberra as Australia surges past 60 million people by 2100, experts say.
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Under a broad plan unveiled by Richard Weller and Julian Bolleter, from Australian Urban Design Research Centre, "megaregions" would be created along the east coast and another would stretch large tracts of Western Australia.
The authors of Made In Australia, Professor Weller and Dr Bolleter say three new cities on the east coast should be built as well as regional centres such as Wagga, Taree and Port Macquarie housing the surge in population.
In the book, the authors claim the most sensible areas for new settlements were between Canberra and Wagga, Melbourne and Shepparton and Newcastle and Taree.
It is predicted Wagga's population will reach 80,000 by 2030. The city grew by 3500 between 2001 and 2011.
Committee4Wagga chief executive Chris Fitzpatrick said Wagga needed to think long term to ensure it became a major hub as the nation's population increases significantly throughout this century.
"What we're focusing on as we move towards 2030 and beyond is what we're calling 'over the horizon' infrastructure projects," Mr Fitzpatrick said.
"If this long-term plan (as suggested in Made In Australia) comes about then we need to be ready for it."
One of the keys to the "megaregions" proposal is a high-speed rail network.
A Brisbane-Melbourne network, which has been long talked about, must see Wagga as one of its drop-off points to ensure the city prospers, Mr Fitzpatrick said.
Other key "over the horizon" infrastructure projects, to be outlined in a coming Committee4Wagga strategic plan for the city, include a Wagga east-west bypass, a council-owned airport capable of servicing jets and the upgrading of Edward Street and Hammond Avenue to improve traffic flow.
A freight and logistics hub, which is already in line to be based at Bomen, is another significant project which will aid the growth of Wagga, he said.
For these projects to get off the ground they will require significant state and federal government funding.
"It's a matter of ensuring we continue to put these projects forward to ministers and the right people," Mr Fitzpatrick said.
"We've got to make sure we get our share of funding."
As well as the east coast's expansion, Professor Weller and Dr Bolleter also predict a megaregion on the west coast stretching from Busselton to Geraldton and the significant growth of Darwin.
