No one knows how long it will take for the coronavirus to run its course, how long it might take for a vaccine to be found, nor how long we might have to endure strict social distancing and shutdown rules that have changed the way we live and work.

But the one thing all health experts can agree on is the fact that this too will pass and our lives will one day return to something approaching normality.

And when that happens, the regions likely to bounce back the strongest will be the ones that went into this economic hibernation in the best condition and those that have projects ready to go to get people working - and spending - again.

With that in mind, it must be encouraging to see so many planned developments still coming in to Bathurst Regional Council, and particularly for projects on the eastern approaches to the city.

In the past fortnight alone the Western Advocate has revealed details of three major development applications totalling many millions of dollars in just the few kilometres along the Great Western Highway between Kelso and Raglan.

First there was a proposed $8 million development on the site of the former Windyhill Nursery at the intersection of the highway and Nile Street.

The proposal included a 54-room motel, garden centre, café and storage units on a 1.7 hectare site (pictured) that has stood vacant for more than than five years.

And today we reveals details of plans for two separate service station developments standingbeside the highway at Kelso and Raglan.

The service stations, if they go ahead, would add further competition to an already crowded sector in Bathurst but they should nonetheless be welcomed as a twin votes of confidence in this region's future.

Of course, none of these DAs has yet been approved by council and we are a long way off seeing on-site work commence. And no one can say with any certainty what impact the economic disruption cased by COVID-19 will have on any (or all) of the proposals.

But Bathurst's ability to get back on its feet following this crisis depends in no small part on the confidence and courage of developers to keep building this region's future.

We can only wish them all the best.