Inspector Greg Payne said the Criminal Investigation Unit is continuing investigations and could not give an estimated value of the crop until an assessment had been made. 

The Courier earlier reported police officers were called to the Redan property on the corner of Talbot and Bell streets at 4.30am on Tuesday, where they discovered the hydroponic set up after a passerby alerted police to suspicious activity. 

Police backed an unmarked truck into the driveway of the house for the collection of the plants before a Powercor team disconnected the house from mains power at about 2pm.

Shortly after, an officer took a large number of evidence bags onto the premise. No charges have been laid. 

The owner of the house – not the current tenant – arrived on the premises at about 2.30pm.

A nearby resident said there was a “glow” coming from the house in the early hours of the morning. The resident said they were “shocked” to learn the dwelling was used as a grow house.

“To have that just over the road is a real shock,” they said. “If there was a fire it would go up in two minutes. I thought there was a fire there this morning (in reference to the glow).”

The Criminal Investigation Unit is urging residents to remain vigilant about the possibilities of illegal activity in their neighbourhoods . 

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Ballarat Police on 5336 6000.