By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
A PROPOSED Pakenham gun range has hit its first funding target, with organisers now preparing to submit their application to Cardinia Shire Council.
Earlier this year, a multi-million dollar plan was released detailing Pakenham as the site for Australia’s first firearm shop and on-site, multi-level shooting range.
The first phase of the project involved crowdfunding the $25,000 required to submit the application to council. The breakdown of this figure includes provisions for an acoustic report, application fee, application advertising, audit and compliance fee, accounting fee and legal fee.
Likely to be built in the industrial area south of the Princes Freeway, the plan is the brainchild of Southern Cross Firearms (SCF) managing director Chris Moore, who said earlier this week he was “delighted to announce round one funding recently closed with the campaign achieving target.”
“Many local firearm enthusiasts got behind the campaign and helped us raise sufficient funds to move the project into the next phase.”
Mr Moore told The Pakenham Gazette in May that the he saw no reason why council would not approve the plan.
“The council are being very supportive in helping us clarify our requirements,” he said.
“We have also received a communication stating that if we’re able to meet the requirements, the council sees no reason not to support our application.”
He said the success of the campaign was reflective of widespread support for the project within Cardinia.
“This achievement is a testament that law-abiding firearm owners are eager for a big change and based on feedback, they see this as an opportunity to further differentiate and widen the gap between safe sports shooting and illegal firearm ownership.”
Residents can expect to see real progress in the next few months.
“A suitable location has been identified and all going well, the application should be ready for submission within the next four to six weeks,” Mr Moore said.
