Bid for shooters' home fails to hit target
Plans for a clay target range to share part of Leschenault Hand Gun Club's site appear doomed after it failed to get Department of Parks and Wildlife support.
The proposal to Harvey Shire Council would have seen a new clay target club use part of the site, north of Australind, and shoot at alternate times but the applicant withdrew.
In a letter sent to applicant Ross Peskett last year, DPAW indicated it had no objection to the clubs co-existing provided the hand gun club also agreed.
But in a submission to the council, the club objected on the grounds of having an occupancy agreement granting it exclusive site use and concerns about its ability to expand if the target range came close to an existing fallout zone.
Mr Peskett said it had been a frustrating three years in trying to secure land for the clay target range.
He said he had "tried everywhere" including mining companies, councils and DPAW to find a site and was now considering his remaining options.
He also said he felt no bitterness towards the hand gun club for objecting to the proposal and hoped a basic site could be secured somewhere.
"I have no gripe with the club, I believe we could have got along but that's their right," he said.
"All we want is a couple of acres of sand, it doesn't have to be pristine.
"We don't want money or even an old tin shed.
"We'll fence it, put layouts in and pay our own insurance.
"People say we've only got 20 members but who cares - we're not going to cost the government money."
