A debate is brewing in Gravenhurst over the possibility of a gun range going in a location in Gravenhurst.

Randy Speicher worries his quiet neighbourhood is about get a lot noisier. Gravenhurst council has approved a rezoning application for a piece of land on Merkley Road, paving the way for a gun club to move next door to Speicher’s home in Ryde.

“Anything within 400 to 500 yards – you’re going to hear clear as day. I don’t see how you’re going to get around that.

The Gravenhurst & District Conservation Ryde Club owns the land and is the group behind the proposed gun range. The president of the club didn’t return our requests for an interview on Sunday. But Bob Calhoun, a Gravenhurst Councillor who voted in favour of the rezoning request, says fears about the plan are unfounded.

“They are going to shoot the guns through theses boxes so the sound isn’t going to be that loud and the OPP has a division that deals with gun clubs – the rules are rigid.”

While Councillor Calhoun admits he wouldn’t want to live next to a gun range, he says the rural setting is an ideal location. But the rural setting is exactly why Councillor Randy Jorgenson voted against the plan.

“The area is very quiet and there’s a common misconception that there are acres and acres of empty space but people who live out here choose to live out here because of the peace and quiet.”

Jane Braden isn’t just concerned about the noise, she’s also concerned about the type of bullets that will be used and the effect they may have on the environment.

“We’re concerned about led getting into the soil getting into the water and getting into the watershed.”

And Speicher worries about what it could do the value of his home.

“They told me depreciation of my house being next to a gun range is about 20 per cent.”

The gun club still needs to go through a number of steps before the range is operational including getting approval from the province’s chief fire arms officer.

The group opposed to the gun range now has 20 days to appeal councils rezoning approval to the Ontario Municipal Board. It’s a step they’re not sure they are going to take as many are worried about just how expensive that process can get.