On Wednesday, The Daily Advertiser highlighted the significant developments under way in the city and while the list is comprehensive there are plenty more than those we identified in the story.

Major projects such as The Mill, the redevelopment of the Kooringal and Sturt malls, extensions to Southcity Shopping Centre and The Grange retirement village are not just creating valuable jobs during the construction and operational phases, they are developing essential infrastructure in our community that will serve the population for decades to come.

Many regional cities would be envious of the amount of activity going on in and around this region and we are indeed fortunate to have a number of entrepreneurial businesses that believe in the future of the region.

An important element of creating this confidence is certainty and predictability from local councils.

Teys Australia yesterday launched legal action against Wagga City Council over what it claims has been a mismanaged planning process in the Bomen area.

While this matter will be resolved through the courts, it does highlight the important role local government plays in working with the commercial sector to ensure the future prosperity of the city.

No one would expect private enterprises to be given any significant planning advantage from a local government body, but they must have clear guidelines that are consistent with overall policy, to allow them to plan their future and the future of their employees. Councils need to be proactive in facilitating good outcomes and part of this process is creating a flexible and innovative approach.

This region has weathered some pretty tough times economically the long drought having a severe impact on the agricultural sector.

Fortunately, facilities such as Charles Sturt University, TAFE and the defence force bases have provided a steady platform for the region's economic health.

There will always be tough times and, no doubt, planning issues that will cause some grief. But the overall picture is a very positive one and one we should all be proud of as this investment continues to drive our local economy creating job opportunities and ensuring we can continue to enjoy the lifestyle of living in one of this nation's great regional centres.