The report, which dealt with a review of the council's involvement in the Central Highlands Regional Library Corporation, was listed on the agenda for tonight's ordinary council meeting as an item for discussion `in camera'.

In most circumstances, that means the discussion and the report that informed it would be off-limits to the public.

But in an embarrassing blunder, the 11-page report was uploaded to its website early on Monday, before being hastily removed later that morning.

A new version of the agenda with a headline for the report on an otherwise blank page has since taken its place.

Ballarat City Council chief executive officer Anthony Schinck said two versions of council agendas were prepared ahead of most meetings, one for the public and another for councillors and staff.

He said the wrong version was accidentally put up by a staff member.

"It was online for a period of about 45 minutes when the error was discovered and the confidential version was taken down," Mr Schinck said.

He said the report had been put `in camera' because it contained financial information that was confidential to the corporation.

Ironically, items designated confidential have been relatively rare in the term of this council, which has placed heavy emphasis on transparency in council business.