A planning permit for the $65 million project was issued in 2012, but with work yet to start, that permit has almost expired, prompting Wodonga Council to give its approval to another.

On this occasion, the council’s rubberstamping of a permit is understandable; it wants to see this project to completion as much as local residents.

But it’s been a long time coming. The former hardware store stood empty for years, a waste of prime retail space in the city centre, with the project first announced more than five years ago.

Then, since the building was demolished this year, it has been a vacant block surrounded by temporary fencing with no sign of action, and completion has been pushed back from 2015 to 2016.

No one is doubting the time a project this size takes, nor that the Mann group is doing all it can to keep on track.

But Wodonga has been waiting a long time for life to return to its city centre, for the city to live up to all its potential.

No one is expecting it to happen overnight, but starting construction will be a welcome sign and help keep faith in developments and the council’s vision.