Fitzpatrick Real Estate's Greg Howick said the developers were shovel-ready, with one petrol station and several retailers vying to set up shop in Boorooma.

However, Mr Howick said the "ball's in council's court", with the project remaining at a standstill until the rest of the development applications are approved.

"There's really good interest, for sure, both locally and out of town, but until we get that initial approval out of council we can't accept their offers because we're not sure what council's going to say," Mr Howick said.

"If, if, council acted in a timely manner we'd be looking to try and get completion by the end of the year, because a lot of the site work will already be done, but it's all down to council."

Council have already approved a community title plan and a construction certificate, with major work on Phar Lap Place due to begin "any day now".

Eight retailers currently have development applications before council, and BP is set to submit their own by about March.

Mayor Greg Conkey said he hoped to get the shopping centre plans through council in a timely fashion, saying he was not aware of any issues that could delay development.

"I hope it will be approved quickly. The northern suburbs are the second fastest growing suburb in NSW and the residents out there need services," Councillor Conkey said.

"It's certainly long overdue. There's a lot of people out there, and there will be a lot more people living out there in the next few years, and they will need to have services on that side of the river."

READ MORE:

However, Estella Progress Association president Bruce Durham said he remained skeptical about whether or not council would approve the development any time soon.

Mr Durham said residents had spent many years for the Estella Shopping Centre development, which had been repeatedly delayed and knocked back by council.

"You start to lose a bit of confidence after a while. Now I'm starting to say, I'll believe it when I see it," Mr Durham said.

"I know council did say at one stage they were going to try and take away any barriers, that they were trying to make it easier than normal to get it past. I just hope that's what they are going to do."