A SSAA Victoria submission has helped an independent panel conclude duck season at the Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve should not be impacted by a nearby residential development.
The panel was appointed by the Geelong City Council to consider a range of issues arising from the new residential land subdivision at Leopold, adjacent to the lake.
Among the considerations was the potential for new residents moving into the subdivision to object to duck shooting on the lake.
SSAA Victoria was one of several submitters who raised concerns about potential conflict between duck hunting and the residential development.
“All too often we hear about people moving to an area where there is an established activity and then complain it out of existence,” said SSAA Victoria Hunting Development Manager David Laird.
“So we wanted to make sure that hunting on a State Game Reserve, which was established by hunters, is not threatened by this new development.
“We said that the proposed development should not directly impact hunting on Lake Connewarre, as the distance is great enough to eliminate any possibility of shot fallout.
“We also said that land purchasers should be told about duck hunting on the lake and that the council should not take action if there were complaints.”
Part of the SSAA Victoria submission was quoted in the final 101-page panel report to the council, including:
“The sound of firearms can be disconcerting to those uneducated in their use and function. A lack of understanding can lead to unnecessary and unfounded concerns about safety. The rezoning of farmland to General Residential Zone will bring many more people into hearing distance of shooting activity.”
As a result, the panel concluded that the potential for land use conflicts between the proposed development and duck hunting activities was not sufficient to justify recommending against the Amendment or the permit.
In other words, if the Geelong Council adopts the panels recommendations, duck hunting on the Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve would be allowed to continue without fear of protest from neighbouring land holders.
“It’s a win for us because it shows common sense can prevail at local government level,” Mr Laird said.
“We are also pleased our submission was given due consideration and used to argue for this outcome. This is one of many submissions we have made on various issues affecting hunting and firearms use as we continue to fight for a fair go for our members”
