HISTORIC Ballarat East Rifle Club will be homeless from March 6 following the sale of the rifle range at Canadian.
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Club committee member Scott Jordan said the club was recently contacted by the successful bidder for the 141-year-old rifle range and told the deal would be finalised on March 6.
The club had been trying to buy the range, which it has used since the late 19th century, from the Department of Defence since 1994.
It initially tried to buy the land through Ballarat City Council, but the council balked at the department's sale contract, which would have put responsibility for contamination of the land onto the council if the club ever folded.
An environmental assessment done in 1998 reports lead, zinc and mercury contamination to depths of up to 30cm across the site.
The department put the land out to tender last year, with the club bidding $110,000 for the range.
Club secretary Andrew Curtis was reported in The Courier on Boxing Day saying the sale tender failed to take into account the proposed use of the land or the club's history there.
The successful bidder for the land Noel Dobbin yesterday declined to comment on the purchase or the intended use for the land, saying it had not yet been finalised.
Mr Dobbin said he would consider commenting next week.
Mr Jordan said Mr Dobbin had offered to let the club continue using the land for some time after March 6, but said legal issues surrounding rifle ranges meant staying would be impractical.
Six of the club's 30 long-bore (long distance) shooters would transfer to the Bacchus Marsh club, which he said was the nearest alternative range. The remainder had indicated they would give up the sport.
The club's only hope of continuing was if the council helped it set up a new small-bore (short range) indoor firing range within Ballarat, he said.
"It's absolutely heartbreaking," Mr Jordan said.
"The sale's been on the cards for 10 years and all of a sudden it's come to a head."
If the club could not find a new home it would donate its money to the Bacchus Marsh club before folding.
A spokesman for Ballarat MHR Catherine King said she was disappointed with the department's decision to not sell the land to the club, and would continue to work with the club to help its members.
Ms King would be happy to work with the club and the council in setting up a new short-bore range in the city.
Ballarat City Council sport and recreation coordinator Digby Jessop said he had not yet seen a letter sent to the council by the club asking for help.
But he said the council would work with the club to help it find a new home.