Following a request from Cr Samantha McIntosh at a meeting of the council, officers will prepare a report detailing the cost of works to dredge the lake, install buoying systems, remove weeds and reinstate water levels following the drought.

Cr McIntosh said the financial summary would answer questions being asked of the council by the community.

“It is full of water, looking spectacular and the lake is buzzing before the Head of the Lake competition,” she said.

“It would be helpful to receive an update on costs involved with the lake to date, so we can see exactly where we are at with all the questions coming in from the community.”

The report will be presented to councillors and is expected to be made public at the next meeting, to be held on March 14.

Former Ballarat mayor Cr Craig Fletcher sought more information on the time period the report would cover, before supporting a motion to outline the cost of all works since the lake was dry.

The move follows controversy surrounding the lake’s readiness to host the upcoming Head of the Lake rowing competition and the 2014 Australian Rowing Masters series.

This month, The Courier revealed that water was being pumped into Lake Wendouree to ensure it was full for the March 4 regatta, after high winds and low rainfall caused it to be 260 millimetres below full.

The City of Ballarat recently purchased a $480,000 lake weed harvester for periodic maintenance works.

Last week, leaked documents showed that contractors working on the rowing course had objected to an international consultant being brought in by council officers and Rowing Australia to advise on the rowing course.