Developers Lascorp lodged the documents for the 2.87-hectare block with the City of Ballarat in early June and while council has requested further information, the project could receive the green light by the end of the year.   

The plans include provisions for two more supermarkets as well as a swimming pool and a gymnasium.  

A further 412 car parks have been allocated, while a market precinct with food trucks has also been planned. 

Lascorp executive chairman Michael Lasky said while development of phase two was likely to be between two and three years away, he was encouraged by the rate of growth in Ballarat’s expanding west. 

“Construction depends on the demand really so the existing centre needs to be up and established and growth of neighbouring regions needs to be matured before we begin,” Mr Lasky said.  

“In every direction all of the real estate is being sold for housing so were talking thousands of new residents in the area so at the end of the day it will be a full sub regional shopping centre.”  

When completed the Delacombe shopping complex will occupy more than nine hectares of land and will ultimately be flanked by bulky goods retailers along Cherry Flat Road.  

Construction on the Winterfield commercial space on the corner of the Glenelg Highway and Wiltshire Lane is also expected to begin in 2018. 

The site is expected to house a petrol station as well as two fast food restaurants, while a childcare centre is also expected to be developed. 

A major medical centre is also set to occupy almost 3000 square metres on the block.  

Goldfields Property Development director Marco Gattino said the developers were hoping to finalise contracts with businesses for the block in the coming months.   

“The demand for land has far exceeded expectation in a residential sense and as a result we’re ahead of program for the commercial development,” Mr Gattino said.