Woodend residents are calling for a ceasefire at an old Macedon airstrip they say hunters and recreational shooters have turned into a rifle range in their backyards.
The old airstrip, off Finger Post Road, was used to land planes carrying supplies when pine plantations were being planted near Woodend.
It’s increasingly attracting target shooters and hunters because of its seemingly remote location.
A nearby resident, who asked not to be named, said she fears for the safety of motorbike riders, horse riders and bushwalkers.
“I am sick to death of people using it as a rifle range and hearing high-powered guns being used where people actually live,” she said.
“I’m just really concerned for other people using the area for recreation and, despite feeling like I live in a war zone, I’m just scared someone will get hurt.
“It’s becoming a weekly occurrence, and we are having to call the police quite often when the gunshots get within 500 metres of the house.
“All of us neighbors in the vicinity actually have our gun licences – it’s just that we feel uncomfortable that people are shooting … 200 metres from our properties.
“I’m all for hunting in the correct locations, bearing in mind the local residents,” she said.
Dean Turner, a spokesman for the timber company, HVP Plantations, that manages the pine forests, said that no permission has ever been given for hunters or shooters to use firearms on its land.
“We have a number of issues with people doing things without permission on our plantations,” Mr Turner said. “We certainly do not give permission for people to use firearms.”
Residents took to Facebook recently to call for clear signage and a ban on shooting.
Woodend police’s David Jakobi said shooting is “not especially prevalent, but it does happen”.
“To my knowledge, police have not recently received any calls about firearms being used at the Macedon airstrip, but I am aware of complaints … in the past,” Sergeant Jakobi said. “Being an old airstrip, it is a long straight unobstructed area that people sometimes use for target practice and for the sighting of scopes. As far as we are aware, they will be shooting at an inanimate object.
“While I can appreciate that residents may be uncomfortable when they hear gunshots, it is not always the case that firearms laws are being broken.”
He encouraged people to call police if they have concerns.
