A year after a local government election that delivered eight new councillors at Campbelltown, we’re starting to see what each of them brings to the table.
Most of them have been content to sit back and let the seven experienced councillors who were re-elected in September 2024 do much of the running during monthly meetings.
A year in, though, and the body language from the newbies says they’re growing confidence as time goes by.
One new councillor who has had no hesitation from the very start is Adam Zahra.
Let’s just say that when he gets up to talk, in support of one of his notices of motion or that of a fellow councillor, he doesn’t pull any punches.
Nor does it seem to bother him that at times he has failed to garner any support for a proposal of his.
He just brushes losses aside and ploughs forward, having a crack, which no doubt is how he thinks of it himself.
And so it was that at the November meeting of council, Cr Zahra moved that council investigate the feasibility of building a 50m shooting range at Campbelltown Stadium as part of the planned $50 million redevelopment.
While Cr Zahra opened his argument by conceding that his notice of motion was a sensitive topic – “gun violence around the world is a serious matter, but pistol shooting is an Olympic sport’’.
“Our own Michael Diamond won gold in trap shooting in the 2000 Olympic Games,’’ Cr Zahra said.
“There are over 7000 registered shooters in the Macarthur region alone who could use such a facility, bringing a lot of economic benefits to the local economy’’ he said.
“To keep their firearm licence, they have to go to a registered shooting range four times a year.
“Currently, our local shooters have to travel to St Marys or Silverdale; if we had one here, imagine how much it would be used by them,’’ Cr Zahra said.
His notice of motion was basically asking for a report.
He wanted it to look at the level of participation across the Greater Macarthur region in shooting sports and the demand for a shooting facility, options and recommendations for a suitable location, including at Campbelltown Sports stadium, economic, community and environmental considerations, benefits and impacts, and a cost estimate.
“People with gun licences are mums, dads and young people, not extremists,’’ Cr Zahra said.
“It’s a safe and highly regulated sport.’’
His motion was seconded by Cr Josh Cotter.
“I commend Cr Zahra for being bold as usual,’’ the seconder said.
“He’s just asking for a report, and there’s no harm in supporting a call for a report’’ Cr Cotter said.
Cr Isabella Wisniewska told council that while she acknowledged the legal status of pistol shooting, she could not support Cr Zahra’s notice of motion.
“I spoke to some people before this meeting and I cannot support this because it’s not a priority for them as something to spend their rates on,’’ she said.
“I suspect a large cross section of our community feel the same way.
“I am also concerned that something like this would expose council to liability issues.
“I think it’s an unnecessary risk to council,’’ Cr Wisniewska said.
Veteran councillor Meg Oates also conceded that pistol shooting was an Olympic sport.
“Some people enjoy putting a bullet hole through a bit of paper, but I am opposed to the proliferation of guns in our community for any reason,’’ she told council.
“It terrifies me the thought that thousands of people could be coming to Leumeah to go shooting.’’
Just before it was put to the vote, Cr Zahra signalled he would be bringing the motion back to council in three months if it did not get up last Tuesday.
He must have done some head counting, because eight councillors voted it down, with just five in favour of a report on a 50m pistol shooting range in Campbelltown.
Councillors A Zahra, K Halabi, M Khalil, W Morrison, S Berbari and J Cotter voted in favour.
Voting against were councillors K Hunt, M Chowdhury, M Oates, I Wisniewska, J Rivera, T Triebels, C McEwan and the Mayor, Darcy Lound.
It remains to be seen, of course, if we have seen the last of this from a councillor who doesn’t shy away from controversial issues.
With the money that the council has already wasted on the Billabong, why not spend more on a shooting range. How about we just go all out and convert the downtown arcade.
The fact isnt helped by not having any liberal members on the council due to the ineptness of the NSW liberal party of course…
The ratepayers money should be spent on something that benefits all ratepayers not just a select few. No on forced people to buy a gun and shoot it at a target. Many people in this area have to travel for sport so what not people who want to shoot? The Councillor needs to look at what is needed in the area not just use council to gain notoriety.