Councillors Sam Romano and Mario Previtera will put forward a motion to Tuesday’s Orange City Council meeting to investigate a suitable site for Olympic target archery for both outdoor and indoor practice.

It was an idea Orange and District Bowhunters president Gavin Kuczynski raised with the two councillors. 

Cr Romano said weather often hindered efforts to hold events at the outdoor range at Lower Lewis Ponds.

“If you can allow an indoor facility, there would be no reason why it couldn’t attract a lot of money into Orange,” he said.  

“It could open it up to the state and to the world.”

Mr Kuczynski said wind and rain were also trying on the club’s 45 members when they wanted to train for events overseas.

“It’s hard and it can be dangerous,” he said. 

“When you’re out of the weather and out of the wind, it’s all down to you and your gear.”

But Mr Kuczynski said the benefits were not limited to comfort, or even the one sport.

“We want to open schools up to another sport,” he said. 

“You could also set it up for soccer or croquet or even tennis.”

Mr Kuczynski said provided the building was big enough, it could be configured in different ways to enable lane-based target shooting or courses mimicking a hunting setting. 

However, he said hunting had become a lesser part of the sport in recent years as it became more popular with women and families.

“It’s just good fun,” he said.

“We’ll be looking at a name change this year.”

The two councillors want the council to seek government funding to help establish the facility.

Once funded, Mr Kuczynski said the club would consider taking on operations. 

Staff comments on the motion said target archery could be investigated and there were currently no indoor facilities in the region. 

Participants would likely have to become members to use the facility, however Mr Kuczynski said the club currently offer three sessions for newcomers to learn the basics and get a taste for the sport before they are asked to join.