Access to social and affordable housing is an intractable social challenge in Wagga, with 317 people in the local area are on the NSW housing register.

Many of these people are facing waits of up to five years, according to June 30 results from the NSW Family and Community Services.

Experts have argued that ultimately the question comes down to two major factors: finance and planning that meets community expectations.

Salvestro Planning director Garry Salvestro said there are various mechanisms and incentives for developers.

"There's state policies, such as affordable renting housing, renewing urban areas and also policies that are directed at more efficient housing that addresses cost and various sectors of the community," Mr Salvestro said.

"The development industry has the opportunity to use these mechanisms to address those needs."

Mr Salvestro said planning policies and local council community plans need to work together to address all areas of the community.

"There's never a right or wrong answer as the community is so diverse and there are challenges," he said.

"There are good intentions to try and involve the community that meets the immediate needs of household frameworks and every generation and government has changed policy for private development to be more involved.

"It becomes a combined effort; there's no one entity: social housing advocates, the community, those who need it, planners ... everyone has to unite."

Wagga is home to an affordable housing development in Mount Austin, on Northcott Parade, by a private developer that took advantage of policy at the time.

Mr Salvestro said it is hard to encourage private developers, even with the incentives, and the community plan is the closest document to look at how it can work at a local level.

"It's a business, it's all about profit and every private business is there to maximise profit," the urban planner said.

"They do have a role to play.

"It comes down to how developers can take advantage of the incentives that the federal, state and local governments to make their developments work for the local people."

The challenge with developers is the returns in social and affordable housing, which are much less than what a developer would get in the private market.

A local investor, who wished to remain anonymous, said cutting through more red tape for less return sees more social housing projects run by not-for-profit organisations with a similar agenda, compared to private developers.

"I think we have a role to play," he said.

"Most development is a business and it needs to stack up.

"Even though there's a demand, the question is whether you can do it and not financially ruin yourself in the process."

A Commonwealth Bank of Australia spokesperson said social housing finance applications are often assessed in much of the same way as any property applications and based on its need.

"We know more access to social and affordable housing is needed across many communities, and we are committed to playing our part in increasing the availability of these homes," the spokesperson said.