AFTER some missteps and growing pains along the way, there is irrefutable evidence Wodonga Council's massive investment in the Logic industrial hub is beginning to pay dividends.
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The punt on developing a major industrial hub well away from the city and in direct competition with other developers of similar ventures had no shortage of critics from the Victorian auditor-general to almost every ratepayer in the city.
Even councillors began to feel the heat and in 2008 tried to sell Logic and use the proceeds to bankroll the city centre redevelopment, but couldn't find a buyer.
Slowly but surely in recent times, Logic has started to turn the corner.
The relocation of the city's saleyards from Bandiana to North Barnawartha helped swing momentum for some significant private sector investment, leading to the creation of all important jobs.
But the big game changer was the development of the rail hub by SCT Logistics with its first train departing the newly created terminal last October to Melbourne before reaching its eventual destination of Perth.
Further expansion is planned this year with the the development of a Brisbane service.
Logic scored another huge win when New Zealand-based company, XLam, decided to set up south of the border after also looking at sites in Albury.
The rail terminal and XLam have both been recipients of Victorian government funding to help make the decision to start up at Logic easier.
XLam also attracted $2.5 million in federal government funding. Its factory is nearing completion and when operational it will create 54 direct and indirect jobs after an initial $25 million investment.
Among some of its early orders will be material for a multi-million -ollar extension of a property in the centre of Melbourne.
Albury Council would be looking on with envy at the investment at Logic from other tiers of government.
A major point of difference between Logic and Albury's industrial hub offering at Ettamogah is the already established north-south access to the Hume Freeway.
Albury is struggling to make progress in upgrading the Davey Road inter-section to full diamond interchange status.
Albury was the first to create a rail terminal, but Wodonga is well and truly in the game now.
