Brian Trenter – Murwillumbah Pistol Club (MPC), Lismore MP Thomas George, William Byrne – MPC, Austin Curtin – Nationals Candidate for Lismore, Damien Dowling and Mark Fleming – MPC. Photo supplied

Lismore MP Thomas George and Nationals Lismore candidate Austin Curtin have congratulated Murwillumbah Pistol Club for their successful shot at $5,600 funding through the NSW Government’s safe shooting program.

Mr George said the program ‘aims to increase safety at shooting facilities in NSW as well as during club sponsored activities held away from [its] permanent base’.

‘This funding is fantastic news for the Murwillumbah Pistol Club, which will use it to upgrade facilities, bringing them up to New South Wales Fire Arms Standard.

‘By supporting clubs to provide good quality shooting facilities, we encourage participation and facilitate the growth of local clubs,’ Mr George said.

The program also supports clubs ‘to develop ways to assist groups that traditionally face barriers to growing membership or access to shooting facilities’.

Mr Curtin said the safe shooting program has provided ‘an opportunity to modernise the region’s shooting ranges, improving safety for participants’.

‘When it comes to firearms, safety is the priority. These grants enable clubs to provide educational programs to members, encouraging safe shooting practices to widen the appeal of the sport.

‘The benefits of this program have already been seen in the Lismore electorate, with the Lismore Clay Target Club receiving funding in 2018 to purchase a new Canterbury Trap.

‘The NSW Government is committed to delivering the best sport infrastructure and services to the people of Murwillumbah,’ Mr Curtin added.