Luckily, though, it won't suffer the same fate as other grand buildings Nowra lost to insensitive modernisation - the pubs on the corner of Junction and Kinghorne streets, for example.

We are thrilled to see developer Maurice Bertapelle has plans to restore the building to its former glory.

For years, it has sat idle and unloved, a victim of neglect that could have so easily been lost to the bulldozer. There were certainly a few voices in the business community who thought that was all the building was good for.

Now, Mr Bertapelle and his team say they are determined to make use of its good bones and give it the love it needs.

It will join the Roxy Cinema and the School of Arts as a trio of heritage buildings that give our town much of its character.

There are others in the town that probably go largely unnoticed. Take a walk down Junction Street and look above the awnings. There are little treasures in between the ordinary and ugly facades. The Walsh's Building is one of them.

It would be great to see some of the CBD property owners do as Mr Bertapelle's company is doing and restore their buildings. It would certainly make central Nowra a nicer place to visit. And with no end in sight to the overseas travel ban, we really do want a slice of the domestic tourism pie.

The road trip is about to become popular again and we need to cash in on it, just as Berry has done for decades.

We need to get people off the highway - which, let's face it, is a pretty unattractive stretch of road once you've crossed the bridge. An attractive, vibrant CBD that is well signposted and marketed will encourage visitors to take a break and grab a meal or coffee before resuming their journey.

The appeal of so many country towns is their built heritage, streetscaping and parks. Nowra has some gems; they're just in need of a good polish. The showground on a sunny winter's day is a perfect spot for lunch but the area around the lookout is in dire need of care. Marriott Park could be delightful if only it was maintained and cleaned regularly.

The restoration of the Spotlight building is a step in the right direction.