Noise issue no trap for gun club
BIG developments for the Maryborough Clay Target Club were approved this week, but all the council wanted to talk about was noise.
An underground trench system for 15 traps and a new amenities block with wheelchair access would help attract national and international shooters to Maryborough, club president Trevor Cecil said.
"I'm really pleased that our development application was passed - that's excellent news," he said.
Mr Cecil was less than impressed, however, with the concerns of some councillors who wanted to bring up the issue of noise from the shooting range before they passed the application.
In the entire application, the issue of noise was only mentioned in three sentences across two "noise impact" subheadings, all of which suggested that volume was not an issue, and yet noise was the only topic of public conversation among councillors at the meeting on Wednesday.
Many wanted to know how the trench system would lessen the noise of the guns, leading to a suggestion that the shooters themselves would be firing from underground.
Mr Cecil laughed off this idea, chuckling that the "galahs in council" should probably call him and ask if they had any questions about the club.
"No, the trenches are for the traps only," he said. This would offer Maryborough the same standard of facilities used in both Olympic and Commonwealth games, he said.
Mr Cecil said the club's decibel level was being constantly monitored, and had approval from all parties including state government departments.
After 50 years in Maryborough, the club was looking forward to these developments ensuring its ongoing success well into the future, he said.
