The proposal for a firing range near Currawang has been knocked back.
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The Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) has refused the development application (DA) for a recreational gun range at its meeting on May 8.
The DA for the recreational Facility (outdoor) Rifle Range at 2155 Collector Road, Currawang had re-surfaced, after a similar plan for a rifle range near Currawang was withdrawn following much community opposition to it.
The plans were submitted by Fiona Burns, the wife of former chief executive and current board member of Australia Target Systems (ATS) Paul Burns, whose company had lodged the similar plan for a rifle range earlier.
At the meeting, the councillors resolved the DA be refused because "it was not compatible with the general aims of the Palerang Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2014."
Specifically, against these provisions of the LEP:
- Cl.1.2(2)(a) To protect and improve the economic environmental, social and cultural resources and prospects of the Palerang community, and
- Cl.1.2(2)(c) To retain, protect and encourage sustainable primary industry and commerce.
The council resolved the proposed development is not compatible with surrounding land uses and would have a significant adverse impact on the amenity of adjoining and surrounding land uses because of noise generated by the intensive use of a range of firearms.
The surrounding land uses include broad-scale agricultural grazing, residential, small farms, hobby farms, bush retreats, wellness retreats, horse riding, animal husbandry and a range of home-based occupations including musical recording and teaching.
"The development is also considered to be contrary to the public interest due to the significant adverse social impacts and incompatibility with adjoining and surrounding land uses and significant adverse impact on the amenity of adjoining and surrounding land uses," the council resolved.
Nearby resident and opponent of the DA Greg Akhurst welcomed the council's decision.
"The council made a well-measured and complete analysis of the process and voted in line with the QPRC Development Strategy," he said.
"There are a number of avenues for the proponent to pursue, but we are happy with the council's decision at this point in time."
The decision may be challenged in the NSW Land and Environment Court.
The DA had drawn 50 negative submissions, with the main issues highlighted by a council report as: impact upon neighbouring properties, potential further development, contamination by lead from the bullets, the relationship between this application and the previous DA, impacts on property values, and noise limits during the proposed hours of operation.
More than 50 people, who had registered to speak about the DA, turned up in public gallery of the QPRC meeting on the night.
David Cole
Journalist at the Goulburn Post
Journalist at the Goulburn Post
