Gympie Pistol Club (Qld Branch) Are Looking to Develop a 500M Range in the Rv
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FEASIBILITY AND OPTION ANALYSIS district shooting facility Gympie Regional Council recreation open space and sport specialists This report has been prepared by: Version control: ROSS Planning Pty Ltd Version Date Document Author Reviewer Recipient ABN 32 508 029 959 1 26.11.14 Initial draft Dion Collins Carly Prenzler Marcus Matthews Upper floor, 63 Bay Terrace Wynnum QLD 4178 2 01.12.14 Draft Dion Collins Marcus Matthews PO Box 5660 3 03.12.14 Draft (post Dion Collins Marcus Matthews Manly QLD 4179 Councillor workshop) Telephone: (07) 3901 0730 4 17.02.15 Final (post Dion Collins Marcus Matthews Fax: (07) 3893 0593 pubic review) 5 06.03.15 Final Dion Collins Marcus Matthews © 2015 ROSS Planning Pty Ltd This document may only be used for the purpose for which it was commissioned and in accordance with the terms of engagement for the commissions. Unauthorised use of this document in any form whatsoever is prohibited. Table of contents 1. Executive summary 1 6. Environmental considerations 19 1.1 Introduction and purpose 1 6.1 Legislative context 19 1.2 Existing situation 1 6.2 Local environmental context 23 1.3 Demand for development 1 1.4 Design options 1 7. Access and infrastructure 1.5 Feasibility considerations 2 considerations 25 1.6 Direction 2 7.1 Access and transport 25 7.2 Site embellishments 25 2. Proposed development 3 7.3 Utilities 25 2.1 Background 3 2.2 Proposal 3 8. Impacts of shooting 27 2.3 Shooting sport trends 4 8.1 Environmental impacts 2.4 Industry engagement 5 of shooting 27 8.2 Noise impacts of shooting 27 3. The site 13 8.3 Impacts on existing users 28 3.1 Site overview 13 3.2 The site in context 14 9. Directions 29 9.1 Council direction 29 4. Land use planning 9.2 Site feasibility 29 considerations 15 9.3 Indicative costs 31 4.1 Sustainable Planning Act 15 9.4 Tenure considerations 32 4.2 Planning scheme 15 9.5 Alternate approaches 32 5. Previous research 10. Appendix 33 considerations 17 Appendix A - Traffic considerations report 5.1 Difficult-to-locate sports study 17 Appendix B - Noise impact study 5.2 Fraser Coast Shooting Complex Appendix C - Quantity survey Issues and Options Paper 17 5.3 Fraser Coast Shooting Complex Revised Layout 17 5.4 Comino Rifle Range Field Investigations Report 18 1 Executive summary 1.1 Introduction and purpose 1.4 Design options For more than fifteen years there has been a push within Gympie (led by the If Council’s preference is to relocate the existing Gympie- Cooloola Range Complex Association) to develop a mutli-disciplinary shooting based shooting clubs and to see the development of a complex that provides quality facilities and long-term tenure to shooting groups. consolidated facility, opportunity exists for the southern end of Curra State Forest to meet this need. In February 2014, the Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing wrote to Council providing in-principle support for the provision of land from the Potentially, a consolidated facility would require the Curra State Forest for the development of a shooting range complex dependent following ranges: on reaching acceptable outcomes regarding: 1000m range - Service Rifle Club Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s preference for the 200m range - Small Bore Rifle and Silhouette Club facility to be located centrally within the State Forest 300m range - Pistol Club potential impacts on existing recreation uses range to accommodate five down-the-line layouts (and securing tenure two overlaying skeet layouts) - Clay Target Club Native Title range to accommodate walk-throughs and three development approvals. skeet layouts - Sporting Clays Club. This study examines demand for a multi-disciplinary shooting complex within It is important to note that each of these individual Gympie and the potential for Curra State Forest to accommodate such a facility. facilities would operate as stand-alone ranges. As such, they would all require suitable amenities, and club facilities. (There may be some opportunity for ancillary 1.2 Existing situation facility sharing between the Small Bore Rifle and Silhouette Club and Sporting Clays Club at the northern end of the complex and the Pistol Club, Service Rifle Club Shooting groups and Clay Target Club at the southern end of the complex Three clubs located on Council-owned land near to the Gympie town centre depending on ultimate facility detailed design). − Gympie Clay Target Club − Gympie Small Bore Rifle and Silhouette Club Additionally, the recently established Shooters Union − (Qld Branch) are looking to develop a 500m range in the Gympie Pistol Club Rv. DATE REVISIONS REC. APPR A Gympie area and could potentially be accommodated at A club located at Sexton on privately-owned land (through private 21/11/14 PRELIMINARY ISSUE - [SD] arrangement) the site subject to additional detailed design. − Gympie Sporting Clays Club A club without a home and conducting modified shoots at the Pistol Club Small Bore − Gympie Service Rifle Club Rifle and Silhouette Curra State Forest . A3 - A1 - SCALE 1:200 1:100 Sporting SURVEYED: Curra State Forest is an active timber harvesting site. It also has permanently CHECKED: CS DESIGNER: CF (AHD)RL: PSM No: marked apiary sites (although at the time of writing none had existing permits). Clays Additionally, public recreation along the roads and trails within the Curra State Forest is an existing (and historical) use. Uses include walking, horse riding, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES Mail: Unit 24/18, Maroochywaters Drive, Maroochydore, QLD 4558 Phone: (+61) 0411501727 email: [email protected] LANDSCAPE DESIGN STUDIO mountain biking, motorbiking and 4WDing. SUNSHINE COAST OFFICE @ 1.3 Demand for Maroochydore. development Demand for development has been established through: consideration of previous studies and other background documents Pistol consultation − with Council, potential user groups and peak shooting bodies, nearbySKETCH DESIGN PLAN Service councils, state government agencies and additional stakeholders Rifle consideration of the long-term future of the Belmont shooting facility1. Clay Clear demand exists for the development of a full bore (full template) rifle Target range. Additionally, need may exist for a sporting clays facility if they are to be moved out of their current facility. If Council offered long-term tenure to the user groups at the pistol, clay target and small bore rifle and silhouette facilities, there would be no demand for RP-366 L001 Project Number. additional (or alternate) facilities of this nature. Sheet No. - Revision 1 This study has found no evidence of any planned closure of the facility Rv.A 1 GYMPIE REGIONAL COUNCIL 1.5 Feasibility 1.6 Direction It is highly encouraging that the State Government has provided in- principle support for the development of a shooting complex within considerations the Curra State Forest. The project considered the feasibility of all While the southern end of the Curra State Forest has the physical areas within the State Forest. As outlined throughout this report, for dimensions required to accommodate the proposed users, there are a range of reasons the southern section of the State Forest (referred constraints associated with the site, including: to as the Corella area) is the preferred location for any further existing uses development consideration. − timber harvesting However, given the significant costs involved with any shooting facility − apiculture development, Council’s first decision needs to be the future direction − recreation track and trail use of the three existing clubs within Gympie. While Council was of the topographical considerations understanding that all of the shooting groups were keen to relocate − the area is far from level and finding suitable lengths to to a consolidated venue, this is not the clubs’ preference if long-term develop ranges without significant earthworks is somewhat tenure can be provided at the existing facilities. difficult environmental considerations If Council prefers for the clubs to relocate from their existing facilities − creeks and gullies that meanders across the site within Gympie opportunity exists to develop two shooting ‘hubs’ − potential for important flora and faunal ecosystems within the southern end of the Curra State Forest. access considerations − there are no sealed roads leading directly to the proposed At the northern end of the preferred parcel (near the intersection of sites Wood and Dead Horse Roads) facilities for the Small Bore Rifle and − it is likely to be difficult to regulate inappropriate access to Silhouette Club and Sporting Clays Club can be developed. the ranges Facilities for the Service Rifle Club, Pistol Club and Clay Target additional considerations Club could be developed toward the southern end of the area. − there is no electricity connected to the site This represents the best location to resolve competing interests in − there is no water connection at the site. relation to land use and feasibility (cost effectiveness) of providing a While there are other areas within the State Forest that have the shooting facility. dimensions to potentially accommodate a future multi-disciplinary complex, given the difficulty accessing these areas and topographical Queensland Police Service - Weapons Licensing indicate that constraints of providing suitable range layouts without significant the proposed shooting templates for the consolidated facility are investment in bulk earthworks, they are not considered to be as appropriate. attractive. If a new home is only required for the Service Rifle Club, opportunity In order to replicate as much as possible the driving times and road exists for development at the Curra State Forest or at a private conditions for the existing Gympie-based facilities and to provide facility (either through land purchase or a leasing arrangement). quality facilities with opportunities for continued growth (particularly in junior ranks), the southern end of Curra State Forest is preferred. Ideally, access to each range should be via sealed road and within 15-20 minutes total drive from Gympie township.