Knuckey Lagoon complex said to be ‘too far out of town’ Games hope shot down
NT Field and Game
WHEN the Government announced shortly after taking office that they would reintroduce the Arafura Games I saw an opportunity for the shooting clubs to hold events that would attract interstate and international competitors.
We at NT Field and Game might have been a bit slow out of the blocks to register for the 2019 Arafura Games but I made sure we were front and centre for the 2021 Games registration.
Therefore, it was very disappointing to have Sporting Clay target shooting turned down.
I thought maybe it was due to criteria leaning towards events that are linked to Olympic and Commonwealth Games.
But I have learned from talks with other clubs that no shooting sports will be represented as was the case in 2019.
I was very politely informed that NT Field and Game’s application was rejected for geographical reasons.
It seems the Mickett Creek Shooting Complex is too far out of town at Knuckey Lagoon.
I countered there are hotels at Palmerston and Berrimah that could accommodate the competitors and we would arrange transport through a minibus company that sponsors NT Field and Game.
This was still not enough to get us over the line.
It appears the Mickett Creek Shooting Complex, which was built with consideration that it would be a Commonwealth Games venue if they were staged in Darwin, is too far out of town. The range is central to Darwin, Palmerston and the rural area.
NT Field and Game has 450 members with another 250 members of other clay target shooting clubs in the NT.
There are 16,000 licensed shooters in the NT.
That is 7 per cent of the population and I would expect that one day we would be able to play on a bigger stage.
Government need to be aware that the I SHOOT, I VOTE bumper sticker campaign has started because of this type of treatment of recreational and sporting shooting.
Practice has resumed every Friday from 4pm at the Mickett Creek Shooting Complex range, Brandt Rd, Knuckey Lagoon on Five Stand Sporting clays, Skeet and Simulated Field. All are welcome.