It took little more than 24 hours from the time the document outlining Harvey Norman's plans to relocate to the vacant Masters building was lodged with council for the DA to be given the green light.

In truth, it was not a complex DA. The structure Harvey Norman will occupy is already standing and there was no need for zoning change at the site.

The DA was simply seeking approval for a change of use of the vacant building, some internal alterations and some signage, but still the approval came much quicker than we'd normally expect.

Now it's a matter of seeing what comes next.

Harvey Norman is certainly a big name in Australian retailing but the company is operating in a very crowded market in Bathurst.

Harvey Norman's electronics division is competing for local sales with other big names such as JB Hi-Fi and The Good Guys, while there is also no shortage of furniture stores in the city.

Then there's the ever-present threat of online shopping that every local bricks-and-mortar retailer must face.

But a move to new, larger premises (and also slightly closer to town) will certainly spark some interest and Harvey Norman would be hoping for a significant jump in customers for the first few weeks, at least.

Even more attractive will be the fact Bathurst will become Harvey Norman's first country store to house a "clearance centre" that will sell "chipped, superseded [and] excess stock" at heavily discounted prices, which is sure to draw in customers from right across the Central West.

That's more people coming to our city and more potential customers for every local retailer. That has to be worth celebrating.