Family fights for Pompei’s Landing on the bank of Mordialloc Creek as Kingston Council considers options

A LEGENDARY Mordialloc family faces a fight to keep hold of Pompei’s Landing on the bank of Mordialloc Creek.

Leon Pompei is worried Kingston Council is not honouring the legacy of his legendary fath

A LEGENDARY Mordialloc family faces a fight to keep hold of an iconic stretch of land it made its own over many decades.

The future of Pompei’s Landing on the bank of Mordialloc Creek has been uncertain for almost two years.

Kingston Council has considered offering the prime land to someone other than a relative of renowned boat builder Jack Pompei, who died in 2008.

On Monday night the council decided to give Mr Pompei’s son Leon Pompei, who has continued part of the family business at Pompei’s Landing since his father’s death, the chance to convince the council he should continue to lease the Crown Land site.

But he had a battle on his hands after some councillors, including John Ronke, questioned whether he could make the most of the prominent site.

Despite a council officer recommending the council begin an expression of interest process on the site, Cr Rosemary West said they should first hear Mr Pompei to honour the decades of work Jack put into the creek and the 600 lives he saved in rescues out on Port Phillip Bay.

Cr West said she understood the council had an agreement with Jack Pompei that Pompei’s Landing would remain in his family’s hands as long as a Pompei remained on the scene.

“This should not be seen purely as a property matter. This is a community matter,” Cr West said.

Cr Ronke said he had ­always supported Jack Pompei and his wife Gwen, who died in 2012, and originally supported Leon Pompei.

“The more I have gotten to know Leon over the years the less confident I am that he can pick up his father’s incredible legacy,” Cr Ronke said.

Cr Ronke also questioned whether allowing Mr Pompei to make a personal business case might jeopardise any future EOI process.

Mr Pompei, backed by about 30 supporters, said he was happy with the chance to present to the council.

He said he had found it difficult to make the most of the site in recent years because he had no guaranteed future on the land.

“I am more than happy to continue the good working relationship . . . with the council,” he said.