Thomas Speed of Greendale was affected by amphetamines, cannabis and alcohol when he drove past the Shell service station on Clunes Rd about 10.45pm on September 11 and fired at it with a sawn-off semi-automatic firearm, Ballarat Magistrates Court heard.

Moorabool Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Tony Coxall told a bail application hearing that two shots penetrated the service station store, where two attendants were on duty, and missed a man entering the store by less than a metre.

Det Sgt Coxall said Speed and a passenger bought petrol at the service station just moments before the shooting and left without incident. He described the shooting as a "totally unprovoked act that could easily have been fatal".

He said police "strenuously opposed" Speed being granted bail due to a propensity for violence demonstrated by his long list of prior convictions, a lack of control by his parents - who had once taken out an intervention order against their son - and a police view that he had a fascination

with firearms and could easily obtain them, despite being prohibited from doing so.

Speed has been in custody since his arrest on September 13, when he was charged with 14 offences, including reckless conduct endangering life and 13 further firearms, weapons and drug charges.

Det Sgt Coxall told the court that police searched Speed's home and car two days after the shooting, uncovering a cache of unregistered and home-made weaponry, explosives and ammunition. He said Speed posed an unacceptable risk to the community if released on bail.

He said Speed had three prior firearms' convictions, five for weapons' offences and numerous others for threats to kill.

Speed's defence counsel withdrew the bail application, indicating his client would plead guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Richard Pithouse requested Speed be assessed for a combined custodial order and psychological report, to get him into the rehabilitation process as early as possible.

Mr Pithouse remanded him in custody and adjourned the matter until December 7.