Shooters’ union calls for council transparency after staff member leaked development documents

Proponents for a gun range in Adelaide’s south are calling for a council staff member to be sacked after leaking information about the proposed development.

Proponents for a gun range in Adelaide’s south have taken aim at a local council after a staff member leaked documents about the proposed development.

The Shooters Union of South Australia are calling for the City of Onkaparinga worker to be sacked, after leaking information it says was used as part of objections against the proposed range at Old Noarlunga.

The development – which would include club facilities for rifle, pistol and shotgun shooting and up to a 700m rifle range – was submitted by local gun shop The Gunnery, earlier this year.

The proposed site for the Old Noarlunga shooting range. Pic: Onkaparinga Council

A petition with more than 100 signatures opposing the development of an outdoor shooting range at 1559 Piggott Range Rd, was lodged with council in May.

The petition was concerned with safety, noise, contamination and its proximity to a primary school.

SUSA president Peter Heggie and owner of The Gunnery has lodged a complaint with the council, who have investigated and confirmed a breach had taken place.

“This is an extremely serious matter and it is in the public interest for Onkaparinga council ratepayers to know that council staff will be properly held to account when they act inappropriately,” he said.

“This person involved in this matter has undermined the integrity of council’s approvals process and undermined public and ratepayer confidence in the council.

“All the council has to say is ‘we’ll deal with this in secret, move along, nothing to see here’ It’s entirely unacceptable.”

“This planning debacle has cost me well over $20,000 and I will not just shrug and trust the council to secretly take the appropriate action against the person involved.

The Gunnery at Christies Beach have applied to build an outdoor shooting range and training facility at Old Noarlunga. Picture: Facebook/The Gunnery

“There need to be clear, serious, and transparent consequences for this sort of thing and we will continue to explore further options until there’s a satisfactory result to this situation.”

Onkaparinga council’s director corporate Christopher White confirmed the breach, and said while the actions of the staff member were “concerning”, it was within council’s rights to not make the documents public.

“I can confirm a document relating to a development application at the former Abattoir site on Church Hill Rd in Old Noarlunga has been made available to a member of the public,” he said.

“While any member of the public can attend council offices to view relevant development application documents, copies of those documents should not be provided for people to take away.

“In accordance with council policy, the matter was referred to an independent party for investigation, and the recommendations of the independent party has been followed in all respects.

“This included action concerning the staff member involved, the nature of which cannot be disclosed for privacy reasons.”