Corella Range Complex for Gympie

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
Ron Owen
24 Groves Road
ARULEN QLD 4570
Total Signatures - 143
Sponsoring Member: Tony Perrett MP
Posting Date: 12/10/2016
Tabled Date: 12/10/2016
Responded By: Hon Dr Steven Miles MP on 11/11/2016
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

The petition of residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House a 24 years-old promise to replace the Victory Range Gympie. The 1999 "Comino Report" (State Government Rifle Range Advisory Panel) recommended that land, in Corella SF700, be excised from the Curra State Forest to establish a regional shooting complex. Due to strong community support and a 50% annual increase in shooting licence applications the Cooloola Range Complex Association was formed with assistance from local Councils. It lodged a submission to the state government in 2003. Two subsequent "Difficult to Locate Sports" reports identified the need for a new shooting range complex at the Corella SF700 site with Queensland Police approving the range safety templates. In 2014, the Minister for Sport, Steve Dickson, gave an "Agreement in Principle" to revocation of the land, with the proviso of answering four questions, subsequently answered in the 2015 Ross Planning Feasibility report. Minister Steven Miles claims they will honour the "Agreement in Principle" but has imposed a ‘five to one' land swap, (or equivalent in money) despite this requirement being previously waived. The requirement for a ‘five to one' land swap, (or equivalent in money) was not contemplated in the original agreement and such an onerous requirement is denying the Gympie region of the economic and social benefits of this new facility.

 

Your petitioners therefore request the House to immediately excise Corella SF700 from the Curra State Forest, or issue a lease to the local council for a sporting shooters range complex.