City of Greater Geraldton votes to give La Fiamma Sporting Club cost of building repairs for brick spalling

The City of Greater Geraldton will vote to give more than $100,000 to a local sporting club to repair a brick wall and end ongoing conflict about who was responsible for the damage.

The council said the La Fiamma Sporting Club signed a peppercorn lease in exchange for the club having responsibility for maintaining the building, but have for many years claimed the City’s sprinklers on the Little Athletics’ Oval contributed to the bricks spalling.

City officers have said placing soil directly against the bricks was not a good design and regardless of the sprinklers the bricks would fail.

In a bid to resolve a longstanding issue over many years, the council will vote to provide the club with $139,871. La Fiamma, located behind the basketball stadium in Wonthella, is the premier soccer club in Geraldton constructed in 1990 with split level cavity brick and 2m of soil placed directly against the rear wall.

In a Council Concept Forum in February 2022, council suggested to provide financial assistance to repairs as long as the club provided a detailed quote and sign an agreement that the club wouldn’t make any further claims against the City for water damage to the premises.

The council said the financial contribution to the club would see a resolution of a longstanding issue between a local sporting club and the City.

The council will vote to approve financing a portion of the building rectification works at the council meeting on Tuesday, March 28.