A tally by the Advertiser has revealed there are less than three shop vacancies in each of the city’s four major shopping centres.

The count showed Southcity and Kooringal Mall had the lowest vacancy rates, with one empty shop in each of the two shopping complexes. The Sturt Mall and Wagga Marketplace were slightly higher with two empty shops each.

It comes against the backdrop of at-times heated debate over the future of the main street, which experts say is undergoing transformation as shopping trends evolve.

Leading Wagga commercial real estate agent Jill Toohey, of Knight Frank, said the city’s major shopping centres were in good health.

Ms Toohey manages Southcity and Kooringal Mall, which is about to welcome a new national franchise in Brumby’s Bakery.

“Brumby’s coming to that tenancy means Kooringal is fully leased,” she said.

“It shows the strength of the Kooringal Mall – and it also shows there needs to be continual investment by landlords.

“Kooringal Mall post-expansion is seeing very good growth after we responded to a market that said ‘we need a bigger Woolworths’. Similarly, that occurred at Southcity – there was a demand there, we recognised that and expanded the centre.”

The Marketplace is currently undergoing a $30 million transformation that is set to boost its capacity by 20 shops. 

The owner, property fund manager ISPT, believes Wagga has been shielded from the full force of the internet.

“While online sales have had an impact … in regional centres like Wagga, the impact is somewhat less,” ISPT development services general manager Chris McCluskey said. “People look forward to a high-quality shopping experience. 

“ISPT wouldn't be investing the money if we didn’t believe there was a compelling investment case.”