By Casey Neill
Springvale’s shooting range will receive a $450,000 facelift.
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) recently learned that its application for $100,000 from the State Government’s Shooting Sports Facilities Program was successful.
It received $100,000 from the program’s first round last November and will put in $100,000 of its own funds for the project at the Princes Highway pistol and rifle shooting facility.
SSAA Victoria facilities manager Shaun Doyle said work was already under way behind the scenes and patrons should start to see activity on the range within the next month or two.
“We now have the ability to refurbish the front entrance and the toilets, repair and replace walls and carry out several other projects around the range to improve the aesthetics,” he said.
The Sporting Shooters Pistol Club resides at the range and also successfully applied for a $100,000 grant which will be boosted by $50,000 from the club.
This cash will go towards building two general purpose ranges in place of range three to accommodate the growing number of pistol shooters attending the facility.
The Journal reported in May that State Parliament had changed the law so SSAA Victoria could buy the government-owned site, which it’s used for 40 years.
“We have 1400 visitors attend the range each month,” SSAA Victoria CEO Jack Wegman said.
“This number is increasing steadily as interest in the shooting sports grows.
“The Springvale range is a hub of SSAA Victoria and where many new sporting shooters are introduced to the sport.”
Mr Wegman said the venue hosted many state title competitions.
“We even had a national title for pistol there last November,” he said.
“There aren’t too many shooting ranges in Melbourne so they come from right out past Pakenham and out to the Mornington Peninsula.”
