A development application from the Busselton Pistol Club to construct an indoor pistol shooting facility has raised noise concerns from nearby residents in Ambergate
At a council meeting last week, an Ambergate resident said if the application was approved their biggest concern would be the sound of live gun fire.
Members of the pistol club are currently restricted to air pistols, which the resident said they could not hear when used.
The Busselton based club are the only pistol club in Australia which does not have a shooting range, according to its secretary Chris Monk.
Mr Monk said the club has been restricted to the use of air pistols in recent times with their members travelling to other pistol clubs to use their facilities.
“The Busselton Pistol Club is very respectful of the local community and has incorporated into the design of the new development aspects that address concerns of safety, noise and contamination,” he said.
“We just want a place to conduct our sporting activity and we have been working with the City of Busselton to make this possible and minimise any potential impact on the local community and environment.”
Mr Monk said the difference between using an air pistol and live ammnunition was that air pistols compressed air to push a projectile, whereas with live ammunition the burning of a small charge of powder produces gasses that expand rapidly to push a projectile.
“The new development has incorporated the best available technology into the design to minimise sound levels,” he said.
“The Busselton Pistol Club has gone to great efforts and expense to construct a fully enclosed concrete sound proofed indoor facility,” he said. “This is to minimise sound levels and minimise any potential impact on nearby residents.”
At the meeting, City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said they were waiting on a report about the noise impacts before the matter went to council.