But some are doing it tougher than others.

We've used 10 years of ACT government data to help you determine if your beloved local shops have been fostered or forgotten.

About 60 per cent of Canberra's 113 commercial precincts managed by the ACT government are local shopping centres. In the past decade, 20 of the 66 suburban hubs have been upgraded. Three more are currently undergoing renovations. Including those underway, the ACT government has spent roughly $15 million on these works - or about one third of the roads funding allocated in this year's budget alone.

Local shops that have been forced to board up over this time are those at Downer - which an ACT government spokesman admitted was likely due to competition from Dickson and the "changing local community" - Kambah and Aranda, though the latter has since been revitalised.

The spokesman was unable to say how many more centres have closed in the past decade as some are privately-owned.

But Gungahlin is the only area, apart from Kingston, that has seen a growth in suburban hubs over the 10 years. Six of the seven new government-managed precincts are located within the booming district.

The spokesman did not detail plans for upgrading the some-40 shops that had not been revamped in a decade, but said the government regularly undergoes minor works such as providing new bins, gardens and drinking fountains. In the past two years, the government has spent about $3.7 million on these works, which includes weekly cleaning.

Meanwhile, the 2017 ACT budget included two $3 million investments in the major town centres of Tuggeranong and Gungahlin, as well as a further $2 million for Kambah Village.

The government spokesman said it was committed to urban renewal around local shopping centres that would ensure their survival.

"Local centres should be a place that service the community by providing facilities for the local area, whether this be doctor surgeries, hairdressers, cafes or a place to shop," he said.

"By ensuring that local centres continue to offer these services to the community, we can ensure their long time viability."

The government's sole plan to achieve this is to investigate new local shopping opportunities around medium-density housing and where older Canberrans can age-in-place.

Architects have welcomed the focus on greater density around local shops, providing the plans are realised, but also suggested relaxing zoning requirements, providing a better residential-business mix and supporting organic entrepreneurship to help rejuvenate struggling centres.

We'll have to wait and see whether these cherished and uniquely-Canberran spaces can stand the test of time.

with Emma Kelly