LAKE Wendouree could be full again much sooner than expected.Right now, the lake is due to be near full by 2013 and at capacity a year later.But The Courier understands a new plan has been developed by the State Government and Central Highlands Water that would see the timetable to re-fill the lake brought forward.The nature of the scheme and how much sooner the lake would be filled have been kept under wraps. Premier John Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding are expected to make an announcement about the plan in Ballarat today. In March the Premier said he was disappointed projects to fill the lake were not working."Like every person in Ballarat and Victoria, I want to see water in Lake Wendouree," the Premier said at the time.He said he wanted to see the lake full because of its importance as a local recreational hub and tourist attraction and asked for more options to be explored.A spokesman for Mr Brumby yesterday said the Premier wanted to see Lake Wendouree again become part of the social heart of Ballarat.The lake has been empty or near-empty since 2006.This year a push from local residents and businesses to fill the parched lakebed gathered momentum.In March, Ballarat businessman Graham Wilkie launched a campaign in The Courier to raise money from private investors to pay for up to 3500ML to restore the lake.A report presented to Ballarat City Council in April said measures already taken and future plans to refill the lake had cost a combined $12 million. The strategy, involving a combination of stormwater, treated wastewater and rainfall would see Lake Wendouree back to almost full in two years and completely full by 2013.The report said the present long-term strategy was preferable to a quick fix.It cited factors including the cost of transferring drinking water to the lake, a lack of infrastructure for the job and potential harmful environmental effects of a rapid refill.The findings were backed by the eight councillors who received the report.