More than $27 million worth of building permits have already been issued in the city for the first three months of the year.

That puts the city on track for another year of more than $100 million worth of building activity.

Last financial year there was $110.4 million worth of building permits issued in Warrnambool which was slightly down on 2017-18 where building activity was $118.8 million. In 2016-17 it was $116.6 million and in 2015-16 $97.8 million.

Councillor Sue Cassidy shone a spotlight on the positive signs in Warrnambool's building sector at last week's council meeting, saying the council's revenue from planning permits was already up $23,000.

Cr Cassidy said the key things driving the increase over the first quarter of this financial year were a jump in the number of planning applications as well as the higher value of the projects.

The council has revealed it received 79 planning applications in the first quarter of the 2019-2020 financial year, compared with 69 the previous quarter and two more than the same quarter in 2018-19.

The number of building permits issued during the first quarter of this financial year was 131, according to the Victorian Building Authority.

"When it comes to planning and building in Warrnambool confidence is high and there is a mix of residential, commercial and industrial construction taking place," the council said in a statement.

"Warrnambool has a knowledgeable and capable development sector."

Cr Cassidy said the statistics showed people wanted to invest in the city.

She said it was also proof that the city was growing.

"We talk about our plan is to have a population of 50,000 by 2040, we're heading in the right direction," Cr Cassidy said.

"There's a lot of good things happening in the city."

She said there was a lot of development on the horizon and pointed to the redevelopment of the Tasty Plate building in Fairy Street and the Deep Water Spa on Lady Bay as some of the developments in the city.

"There's always things happening," she said.

"You look out Hopkins River over the bridge, there's massive amounts of land over the river being redeveloped."

In the past month, plans for multi-apartment developments in Warrnambool have been unveiled including one on Mortlake Road, Dales Road and a redevelopment of the old Criterion hotel site in Kepler Street.

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