Police have closed large sections of the training venue of Australia's Olympic shooting team after an investigation found it was unsafe, projectiles were leaving the range, lead was "raining down" on buildings with people inside, and shooters were illegally using full metal jackets.
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Victoria Police's Licensing and Regulation Division conducted the investigation after receiving a number of complaints about safety standards at the Melbourne International Shooting Club in Port Melbourne.
The venue, which includes 25-metre and 50-metre ranges, hosted shooting events at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and is the training venue for the Australian pistol shooting team ahead of the 2020 Olympic games.
In a finding made public on Friday night, Acting Inspector Andrew Armstrong said the investigation found serious safety concerns and poor management by the committee of the Todd Road complex.
"I am not satisfied that the 25mt ranges are currently containing all shots sent down the range," Mr Armstrong said in the statement.
"The current state of the ranges also makes them unsafe for range users and the general public and I therefore revoke the 25mt range approval 11 April 2016.
"Revocation of the range approval is effective immediately and will remain so until all safety concerns are addressed."
Investigators found lead on the roof of a demountable shed being used for administration. Statements given to police described led "raining down" on the tin roof.
The investigation found evidence shooters used ammunition above the allowed calibre, including full metal jackets.
It also found members of the club executive allowed unlicensed shooters to use the range without appropriate supervision.
The regulator's report detailed a number of concerning incidents, including one in which a shooter was injured by a ricocheting shot. It said nothing was done to improve safety after that incident, nor after a recommendations provided to the club by the regulator in 2014.
Another incident involved a "clear safety breach by a member of the board of management" which called into question "the safety standards being set at the club."
"I have concerns that the current board of management has been aware of a number of safety issues for some time and have not acted on those concerns," Mr Armstrong said.
Melbourne International Shooting Club was been contacted for comment.
