Rosalie Sporting Association inaugural president Pat Ellis said WSRCU was forced to relocate from an ‘overcrowded’ Rosalie Park to Bennet Park in Doubleview in February.
As WSRUC contributed $30,000 to Rosalie Park Pavilion in 1991, he claimed the City owed them compensation to build clubrooms at their new Doubleview grounds.
Written by four life members of the club and sent on June 13, the letter expressed disappointment at the council’s treatment of the dispute.
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READ NOW‘From the outset we were aware that it was going to be a David and Goliath battle,’ WSRUC life member John Hancock said.
‘Whilst the Mayor was initially very supportive and sympathetic to our request for assistance, that attitude appeared to have changed and the council vote reflects this.’
City of Subiaco administration staff received legal advice on May 3, which concluded that WSRCU had no grounds for a monetary claim of any amount.
A report to council said the provision of any payment to the club would risk creating a precedent in allowing other sporting clubs to seek donations from the City to support relocation outside municipality.
In addition, should they make any payment, it said there was likely to be negative feedback from Subiaco residents and ratepayers.
Mr Hancock said the City was sending a simple message to local sporting clubs that whatever monetary contribution they put into building or improving clubrooms was actually a gift to council. ‘However, we have now moved on wiser for the exercise and are looking forward to many happy years at our new location.’