Shot in the arm for rifle range
SOUTHERN Downs Rifle Club captain Chris Neave is upbeat about hopes for the 2012 district championships following major work at Risdon Range.
The club received a State Government grant of $48,870 for flood restoration work which was completed a month ago.
Neave said club members had shot with difficulty since the 2011 flood due to major washouts on each of the ranges.
"Except for the grant, we would have been in all sorts of trouble," Neave said.
Club secretary Barry Russell said almost one metre of water lay between the 300-yard and 400-yard ranges for three weeks after the flood.
"We had eight inches (20cm) of water through the clubhouse," Russell said.
Risdon Range is well above the nearby Rosenthal Creek but was flooded by local runoff.
The mounds for each range at 300, 400, 500 and 600 yards were re-formed and there was damage to range access.
Draining work has been part of the flood restoration.
Couch grass has been planted on top of each mound for the various distances and is being irrigated so stood out on Sunday on an otherwise dry landscape. Neave said the club was happy with the contract work done by the Loy brothers.
The club expects 100 shooters to nominate for the Darling Downs District Rifle Association Shoot on May 19-20. Neave hopes for a field of 50 for the ANZAC shoot on April 29.
New members welcome to weekly shoots from 8.30am Sunday.
