Last blast for shooters

Kim Waters
Geelong Gun Club will mark the end of 100 years at its Limeburner’s Point home this weekend after losing a seven-year battle with authorities to stay on the site.
The club will have two days of skeet and target shooting as its last activities on Limeburner’s Point before moving to a new home.
Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Mike Behnke was “delighted” the club had finally agreed to leave.
“An environmental audit of the site revealed lead-shot and clay-composite targets (containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) had caused land contamination,” Mr Behnke said.
“Demolition of the shooting traps and housings has been planned to start on December 1, leaving the site clear for decontamination works after Christmas.”
Mr Behnke said other sport and community groups would have access to the shooters’ clubrooms behind the shooting range.
“We look forward to seeing this prime waterfront site transformed into open space for the public to enjoy.”
State Government has spent years trying to force the club off Limeburner’s Point amid concern about environmental damage from lead shot falling into the adjacent bay and other debris tumbling down the point’s cliff face into the water.
The Government asked former site manager City of Greater Geelong to evict the shooters during the drawn-out battle over the site. Councillors refused the request, leading to the Government taking over responsibility for the site.
The state served the club with a June 1 eviction notice but the shooters refused to leave, claiming the Government had promised they could stay until it had found them a new site.
The club has since found a new home.
Mr Behnke said the Government would return management responsibility for the Limeburner’s site to City of Greater Geelong after a clean-up “to the satisfaction of the Environment Protection Auth-ority”.
Gun club president Peter Spark said he was as yet unable to reveal the club’s new site.
He encouraged members to attend this weekend’s last blast.
“It’s a good chance to get all the older members who haven’t been there for a while to come down and see the place for the last time before the demolition,” Mr Spark said.