For Wagga city and the smaller towns in the council area, a clear understanding of the plans for economic growth will be essential as national and global slowdowns start to bite.
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At the core of Wagga City Council and the state government's plan to grow the city and the region is the special activation precinct at Bomen.
Though both levels of government have put in an effort to explain the concept of attracting more industrial businesses to Wagga's outskirts, it can be a difficult concept to get across via a quick chat in Baylis Street.
Among those who have been fully briefed, there are some that see too much of a focus on new businesses rather than supporting those who have already made significant investments in Wagga.
A constant element in debates about Wagga's future is the apparent health of the central business district and its retail businesses in particular.
Demonstrating that growth will not be limited to an industrial park should be a priority for the council and state government.
The opportunities for new jobs must also be available for residents in villages within the council, where the perception they are being left behind can easily take hold.
Individual councillors took a step this week towards supporting more high-density residential living in central Wagga with the approval of a $10 million apartment block and retail space on Blake Street.
Combined with approval for a new hotel on Forsyth Street, new developments in Wagga should put at least 100 extra people per night - visitors and residents - into the heart of the CBD.
The theory goes that these new people will need to buy food, services and entertainment and their first and most likely options will be just metres from their doorstep.
This approach is not without its potential drawbacks in terms of parking and impacts residents and businesses that have gotten used to a more open skyline.
Like the plan to have 100,000 residents in Wagga by 2038, it is necessary to explain the shared benefits and plans to avoid negative impacts in order to create a shared goal.
