The scheme, known as Building Victoria's Recovery Taskforce and now the Development Facilitation Program, was introduced in May to try and kickstart recovery through construction.

In regional Victoria, the scheme is aimed at speeding up projects where spending is likely to exceed $10 million, compared to $50 million in Melbourne.

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Projects need to be as good as ready to go, with assured investment, technical and compliance issues either complete or close to resolution and relevant stakeholder views already known.

The Courier also understands the process would mean third-party appeals through VCAT would not be possible under the scheme.

While there have been 295 applications, no project has yet been approved in the City of Ballarat area. A statement from DELWP confirmed 29 applications had been resolved so far, of which 12 had been confirmed by the Minister for Planning.

The taskforce also recommended a further 38 projects, which are still pending and have not yet officially been approved by the Minister for Planning.

The Courier asked whether any of the active applications were from developers within the City of Ballarat area, but DELWP declined to confirm any details.

The majority of the applications are thought to be for projects in metropolitan Melbourne but successfully fast-tracked projects include a 72-megawatt solar farm in Laceby in the Wangaratta Council area as well as a $24.2 million mixed use development in Warrnambool.

Wangaratta councillors had previously refused permission for the solar farm.

The City of Ballarat said they could potentially use the state government scheme in the future but that it was just one of the tools to try to encourage building activity in the city.

Terry Natt, a strategic planning manager at the council, told The Courier the regeneration of the CBD, including the old LaTrobe Street saleyards and Bridge Mall, were among the key projects that could offer stimulus in the short to medium term.

He said the City of Ballarat had made bids to other grant programs for help in land use and infrastructure planning.

He referenced council working in partnership with the Victorian Planning Authority around the strategic plan for the development of the south of the station precinct - known as the Ballarat Station Southside Masterplan - to give just one example.

He also pointed to a council resolution taken last month aimed at fast-tracking the availability of new greenfield growth areas by working with the private sector. Mr Natt said the approach could cut strategic planning times by up to two years.

Development accounted for 13 percent of the local economy, Mr Natt said, with flow-on effects raising that to as much as 20 per cent. Newly elected councillors would be key in establishing the future direction, he added.

"With a new council coming in we're going to be establishing an agreed advocacy on various projects we would like to see happening around Ballarat."

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