The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing is expected to take four days. But a decision may not be handed down for a month.

Plans for the centre, which would be built on a site at Gregory St West, were lodged with council in August last year.

The council received 250 objections to the proposal, most of which came from nearby Lake Gardens residents. But the council did not make a planning decision on the matter within the statutory 60 days.

In December, residents were notified by mail that the matter would now be heard by VCAT.

If approved, the centre would be operated by Butler Excavations and Ballarat Civic Constructions and would receive materials such as rock, metal, soils and trees.

The applicants argue the centre would recycle materials that otherwise end up in landfill. Opponents say it would be too close to a residential area and would pose environmental risks.