Wangaratta Council chief executive Brendan McGrath said detailed core sampling and testing at North Wangaratta Recreation Reserve had confirmed the extent of the contamination.

“Essentially it’s largely shallower than we thought it might have been and a little bit more sparsely spread out,” he said. “Originally it was thought we might have to excavate much more deeply than we now think we have to.”

Mr McGrath said the council was finalising arrangements for the removal of contaminated soil and hoped to put out tenders for the job next month, with works to start as soon as possible.

Environment Protection Authority Victoria found lead contamination at the reserve about 16 months ago, caused by past skeet shooting practices of Wangaratta Clay Target Club. North Wangaratta Football and Netball Club has not been allowed full use of its oval since May last year.

Wangaratta Clay Target Club vice-president Brian Reid said the contaminated soil from the oval should be transferred to the gun club’s shot fall-out zone.

“Our club’s quite happy to take that soil,” he said.

“It just seems to make sense to me. It’s dumped in an area that no one accesses, no one walks there, no one has food there. It’s not an area where children play.”

Mr Reid said doing this could save some of the $3 million set aside to clean up the reserve, which could then be used on other improvements.

Mr McGrath said the council preferred moving the soil to the gun club rather than Bowser Landfill or a Melbourne site, but this still had to be confirmed.

A second council tender for the redevelopment of the oval is expected to go out in November, including resurfacing with new turf, reshaping and upgrading drainage and irrigation.

“All of those elements to make it a first class playing area,” Mr McGrath said.

He said ideally the oval would be available for the start of the 2018 football season, but this could not be guaranteed as yet.