Peter Fitzpatrick, director of properties for the Diocese of Wagga who are behind the development, confirmed the eight-shop specialty mall will likely include at least one restaurant, with other spots tipped to be filled by cafes and retail.

"Yes to a restaurant I've had an expression of interest," Mr Fitzpatrick said. "There's been lots of interest in having eating areas there and food places. I am hopeful of a good spread across the retail sphere."

The development application includes a request for a trading license until 10pm to accommodate the restaurant space.

Fitzpatricks Real Estate's Greg Howick said the mall will be "food-focussed" and predicted shops will be locked in shortly.

"Some good quality out of town business has shown interest which has been pleasing," he said. "We're pretty happy with the mix so far. It's not just about filling [the shops] but filling them with the right people, making a good match for the family demographic."

The specialty shops will be part of a larger shopping precinct on the corner of Messenger Avenue and Phar Lap Place in Boorooma. A development application for a petrol station on the lot has been submitted, and Mr Fitzpatrick confirmed the lot opposite is being held for a supermarket.

New images of the site show a single-level, corner-design and the first look at signage has also been unveiled, the graphics visualising a project some residents have been waiting decades for.

The documents submitted earlier this month state the shops will create 20 to 40 permanent jobs in the area. Construction is estimated to last six months at a cost of $4 million and to generate around 100 temporary jobs.

Maps of the proposed layout show a 40-space carpark, with construction hours requested between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Mr Fitzpatrick said he hopes to see doors open within the year.

"I would love for it to happen by next June, that would be a very desirable outcome," he said.

The project has been in the works for years, with local residents thrilled to finally see works beginning on the site which will be the first commercial retail space in the city's fast-growing northern suburbs.

Boorooma resident Darly Johnson said the lack of any shops has been a daily frustration for her family who moved to Wagga eight years ago.

"We have been here since July 2013 and there are [still] no shops, no petrol pumps," Mrs Johnson said. "To buy milk or coffee or bread for daily life we have to go into town."

Estella Progress Association's Bruce Durham said he was pleased to see the project finally get underway, saying more than anything he was looking forward to being able to catch up with friends at a local cafe.

"We've been dying for a place to get together, have a coffee, buy a paper, it's something we've been wanting for a long long time, it will bring quite a good community group together there," he said

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