TOWONG Shire is facing a potential battle in the courts to prevent a paintball facility being established on farmland bordering Mount Granya State Park in the Upper Murray.
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Council staff have recommended the paintball proposal put forward by Georges Creek couple Ian and Karen Hillas be refused at its next meeting at Tallangatta on Tuesday despite no objections being raised by the Environment Protection Authority and Department of Environment Land Water and Planning.
It's proposed the facility will operate initially on weekends, school holidays with a view to expanding to weekdays as business and demand grows with operating hours between 8am and 8pm in warmer months.
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But it will close on days of extreme or code red fire danger rating.
The "multi-field paintball facility" will only use existing natural features of the site as obstacles and two shipping containers will be used as an office area, toilet and changerooms.
Biodegradable and non-toxic paintballs will be used with exclusion zones between paintball fields, waterways and the adjacent state park implemented to ensure paintball materials and participants don't encroach into the park.
A paintball facility is permitted within the existing rural activity zone, but the proposal has attracted a long list of objections with adjoining property owners particularly concerned about the increased risk of conflicts between vehicles, pedestrians, stock movements and children using the road for bike and horse riding.
Eight objections were received for the original planning application and seven received for the amended version and onsite meetings have been held between council staff, the applicants and objectors.
Access roads and signage into the facility will need to be upgraded at the applicant's expense, but council staff have indicated a traffic impact assessment report doesn't adequately address the existing road issues.
The facility is located about 1km from the nearest home and not visible to neighbouring landowners.
Council planning consultant Shannon Neil said constraints of the site could be adequately addressed through planning conditions on a permit, but access posed "significant challenges".
"The road upgrades required to provide safe access and egress are considered to be extensive and significant," she said.
"Holistically, this facility has the potential to boost the local tourism economy and attract visitors to Towong Shire who may not normally visit."
The report states it is "possible and likely" either the applicant or objectors will appeal council's decision.
