THE Bermagui gun club has been told it is “time to bite the bullet” and consider relocating if it wishes to expand.
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At the Bega Valley Shire Council meeting on Wednesday, Bermagui Field and Game had asked for a review into the council’s refusal to grant it additional days of operation, for what it said would be used to induct and train new members.
In 2012, Bermagui Field and Game lodged a request seeking to allow an additional shooting day each month - the clay target shooting is currently approved for 12 competition days a year, held one Sunday a month.
The club later considered amending its request to only six training days a year, but in December 2013 on legal advice requested a review of council’s determination on its original submission for 12 additional shooting days.
On Wednesday, numerous deputations from concerned neighbours to the Murrah River Rd clay target shooting range were heard, with issues including noise pollution and potential for lead contamination.
Also of concern was a perceived threat to tourism in the area, with Mimosa Winery proprietor Glenn Butson speaking on behalf of his own business as well as Gary Pearse’s nearby eco-tourism venture.
Mr Butson said while “turning the music up” in his restaurant can overcome the noise on shooting days, but it was “obnoxious” to have the sound of shotguns in the background of the wedding receptions the winery regularly hosts.
“People will fly halfway around the world to spend a great deal of money to experience what we are putting in jeopardy here,” Mr Butson said, pointing out Mimosa Winery provides a stimulus of “well over $2million” per year to the local economy.
Councillors resolved in the majority to confirm the refusal of the gun club’s amendment, with only Cr Tony Allen voting against.
Mayor Michael Britten said he had originally voted in favour of the extra training days amendment in late 2013, but changed his view after touring the area around the shooting range on Sunday.
“I went out with one purpose and came back with another,” Cr Britten said.
“I couldn’t hear it at the Four Winds site, but appreciate you might depending on the weather conditions, but I could hear it at the winery and, on a nearby dairy farm, I was amazed at the invasive constant noise.”
Cr Bill Taylor said he had voted against the proposal before ‘and what I have heard today only reinforces my position”.
“I have no issue with shooting as a pastime, but it is in the wrong place and affecting too many people,” he said.
“Perhaps it’s time for the club to bite the bullet and consider relocating.”
Bermagui gun club president Neville Brady.
Disappointing decision says club president
BERMAGUI Field and Game president Neville Brady said council’s refusal to allow training days at its Murrah River Road range was “very disappointing”.
“It’s not the end of the world and it’s something we will have to work around now, but it’s very disappointing for us and disappointing for all shooters in the region,” Mr Brady said yesterday.
“We’ve got to find somewhere to train new shooters – it’s a matter of safety.
“And we need days, not competition days, to introduce new and junior shooters to the sport.
“A kid doesn’t start playing for Hawthorn just because he picked up a footy yesterday,” he said.
As for the suggestion the clay target shooting club relocate to allow potential expansion, Mr Brady said it wasn’t on the club’s agenda, but he wasn’t averse to the idea.
“It’s not as if we are in the middle of surburbia,” he said.
“It’s just that everyone around us doesn’t share the same culture – there are plenty in town who support us.
“We’ve been going well here for 15 years, but if council wants to find us another spot we will take a look,” he said.