UPGRADE: Works are under way at SSAA George Range.

UPGRADE: Works are under way at SSAA George Range. Jonathan Reichard

A MAJOR upgrade of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia range has begun at Eton.

Earthmoving equipment from engineering company Seaforth Civil has moved in to the George Range at Brightly.

Three pistol ranges, a shotgun range, a 500 metre range, and a 200 metre range, are all being built on land bought for the club by SSAA Queensland. Existing ranges are also being enhanced.

The works to upgrade facilities, infrastructure and buildings will cost $620,000, bringing the club up to the standard of an international shooting complex.

As well as the new shooting ranges, the upgrade will include a new shower and toilet block, a new training room, shelters, caravan and camping facilities.

SSAA Mackay president Tony Watson said the club was being turned into a nationally accredited facility.

"Next year we've got four state titles coming here,” Watson said.

"The first building and shotgun ranges will be completed by Christmas.”

"We're actually doing a 'last man standing' state title on Saturday and Sunday here. It's a cowboy action event.”

"We are spending $618,000 this time around. $210,000 from Mackay Regional Council, $108,000 from us and $300,000 from the (SSAA) state.

"SSAA Mackay has 1350 members, so they are all available to shoot on this range. We have 400 active facility members who shoot competition. We also get about 100 people a month who come through who are not members, they just pay their range fees and shoot.

"We have 20-odd club guns that people can use if they pay their range fees, they just have to pay for ammo.

"Once a year we run a junior development day, usually at the end of April. We shut the range down for a day and we supply the ammunition, food, drinks, and guns for kids, anyone under 18 who wants to have a go.

"We have every type of shooting we can, pistol, shotgun and different types of rifle shooting, and they migrate along, shoot everything once, pick what they like and they can go back and have a few more turns at that.

"It's been a big hit. It's been so successful that they are now using our junior development day as the template for elsewhere in Australia.”