The first section of a major 11-hectare Invermay housing development has been approved by council, bringing infill development to the city's north.
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Developers of the Midlands Golf Club's 'Drew's Paddock' project received the planning permit for the first 33 lots from City of Ballarat in August. Construction is expected to start at the end of September this year.
The first stage of the development could be finished by February 2020.
It is part of the larger 111-lot development along Heinz Lane, with developers Villawood also recently submitting subdivision plans for the remaining 78 lots to council.
Villawood's general manager Julian Perez said there's "quite a deal of work to do" to complete the first stage, including creating drainage at the site and a new intersection on Heinz Lane.
The development facing the course's 14th fairway was engineered by the Midlands Golf Club in 2017, as a "financial injection to shore up our future and also upgrade the facilities", according to Midlands board member Robert Moore last year.
A master plan for Midlands Golf Club - which houses the Ballarat RSL and the Midlands Bowls Club - has already been created.
The meals and hospitality areas will be upgraded from the receipts of the development sales, wit ha new al fresco bistro expansion, new bar and outdoor areas and additional office space.
"We see the golf club as a real asset," Mr Perez said.
The best part of the whole development is driving past the golf club every day.
"Out in the west there, there's quite a deal of new development happening, like in Lucas ... council have been pro-active and are wanting to see something on that side of town, because you need to cater for all residents, not just in the west," he said.
City of Ballarat has aims of making 50 per cent of city's development infill by 2040, and the city is rife with potential infill developments either in the council approval stage, or already approved but yet to begin construction.
St Paul's Way in Bakery Hill originally included plans for 76 new residences, housed within a trio of four-storey apartment buildings, as well as 26 townhouses.
The developer has lodged an amendment to council to reduce the number to 85 dwellings, with the 'Marvella Heights' stage of the development at 29 St Paul's Way now for sale off-plan.
Yet to score council approval is the development of 27 apartments and food and drink premises at 11 Davey Street in Ballarat Central, as part of the Nightingale Project for sustainable and affordable design.
Of the 14 pre-sold lots at Drew's Paddock, almost 50 per cent of buyers were moving from Ballarat's northern suburbs to the development, according to Buxton's Real Estate.
Around 68 per cent are second home buyers, with Mr Perez saying the housing estate has attracted residents looking to downsize or commute to Melbourne.
"This is its own market. A lot of people in the area are starting to be empty-nesters, and what we are seeing is that the city is becoming a bit of a commuter town."
