After more than a year of doubt, the future of one of NSW’s most important gun ranges, the Southern Highlands Regional Shooting Complex at Hill Top, looks safe after the state government announced it hand over responsibility for operating the site to SSAA NSW.
SSAA NSW has signed a contract with the state government to take over the range on 1 September, and the facility will be renamed the SSAA NSW Hill Top Shooting Complex.
“Taking on the management of the SSAA NSW Hill Top Shooting Complex represents a major step forward for the entire shooting fraternity,” SSAA NSW CEO Peter Szaak said.
In mid-2024, the NSW Office of Sport (OOS) announced it would offload the complex in a cost-cutting exercise, and asked for expressions of interest from anyone who might want to take over.
The complex had been plagued with problems in the lead-up to the announcement, and had reportedly been operational for only about half of the previous four years, including one enforced shutdown after a shooter was injured when their rifle ‘blew up’ during a shoot.
Shooting clubs expressed deep concern that the range would be closed permanently, but the latest announcement confirms that this will not happen — it looks like business as usual at least for the immediate future.
“SSAA NSW has been awarded a licence to operate and manage the facility, meaning we will oversee day-to-day operations without owning the land,” SSAA NSW communications manager Candice Appel said. “The arrangement is designed to support long-term sustainable management.”
Shooting of rifles and pistols will continue, and the 50m, 500m and 800m ranges will be in operation.
“Our priority is ensuring the complex operates safely, efficiently, providing a state-of-the-art facility that will be accessible by the broader shooting community,” Ms Appel said.
“We echo the Office of Sport’s commitment to maintaining access for resident clubs and casual shooters.”
She said that even with SSAA NSW’s existing knowledge and experience of running ranges, the this one presented new challenges.
“SSAA NSW Hill Top Shooting Complex is unique in its combination of long-range capabilities (up to 800m), multi-discipline facilities, and its classification range status. This requires detailed operational oversight and strong coordination to balance club/branch use, competitions and range standards, which SSAA NSW is very well-positioned to manage.”
The OOS will continue to manage bookings until the end of August, after which SSAA NSW will take over and is expected to honour pre-existing bookings, running a three-day schedule from Friday to Sunday each week plus a fourth day for special bookings.
Pricing will remain unchanged at least until 1 January 2026, when SSAA NSW’s new operating model will come into effect, according to OOS.
Both SSAA NSW and OOS say the intention is that all existing agreements with shooting clubs that use the range, including those not affiliated directly with SSAA NSW, will carry on.
One hurdle SSAA NSW will have to overcome is getting a new range approval from the NSW Firearms Registry during the transition period.
SSAA will also have to set up a workable booking system, likely based on its existing one for other ranges.
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