Jamie Durie came to see the latest work done on his sprawling six-story beachfront mansion on Wednesday.
The 54-year-old famous landscaper was spotted at the construction site, which is located on Avalon Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Wearing standard work clothes, the former Backyard Blitz star donned navy blue pants and a khaki shirt with a camouflage puffer jacket.
He trudged out of the house in brown work boots.
Construction is finally underway on this stunning location, a year after Durie got his construction proposal for a $2.7 million home approved.
The multi-level cliffside property is covered with scaffolding and some house walls have been erected.
Jamie Durie stopped by on Wednesday to see the latest work being done on his sprawling six-story beachfront mansion.
The property is located on Avalon Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The landscaping guru won approval in April last year from Northern Beaches Council on his development application (DA) for the seafront property, despite receiving more than 50 objections from angry locals.
His plans to tear down a 1960s cottage and replace it with a massive six-story mansion for his family first met with opposition from neighbors who objected to the removal of 17 native trees.
Neighbors then had questions about whether the construction of the house would affect the ecosystem of a local microbat colony.
The horticulturist said that in his 25 years of working in the industry, trying to carry out his renovation plans was the biggest challenge he had faced.
“I can tell you right now that if you want to run a district attorney in Avalon, it’s going to be the most heartbreaking thing you’ve ever done in your life,” Durie said. The Daily Telegraph At the time.
Wearing standard work clothes, the former Backyard Blitz star donned navy blue pants and a khaki shirt with a camouflage puffer jacket.
He trudged out of the house in brown work boots.
The horticulturist said that in his 25 years of working in the industry, trying to carry out his renovation plans was the biggest challenge he had faced.
“I’ve talked to about 20 to 30 people in the last six months who have decided not to file their prosecutor because of the circus this has created.”
Community members were also unhappy with Durie’s plans, arguing that the home would not fit into the area.
“This is a huge overdevelopment in this location, given the character of the area and the adjacent properties,” one person told the council.
Durie previously clarified that 1,518 native and endemic species will be planted in and around the property.
“We have rectified the problem and I have sent a letter to all the neighbors and the council explaining what is happening and I hope they see it with our new plans,” he said on Today Extra in 2021.
“I hear you loud and clear and rest assured we will plant many plants in the ground.”
Construction is finally underway on this stunning location with the multi-level property covered in scaffolding, a year after Durie got his construction proposal for a $2.7 million home approved. Left: the property in November 2022, right: the property in June 2024
His plans to tear down a 1960s cottage and replace it with a massive six-story mansion for his family first met with opposition from neighbors who objected to the removal of 17 native trees.
Neighbor John Sheehan, a former acting judge at the Land and Environment Court, described the proposal as “wildly flawed” and was concerned it could have “serious and irreversible impacts on biodiversity values”.
Another neighbor said the proposed home did not resemble adjacent homes that respect the topography and vegetation of their sites.
“This is a serious overdevelopment in this location, given the character of the area and adjacent properties,” their presentation stated.
“It should be redesigned by an architect to reduce site coverage, retain all important trees, move away from the promenade to stay within the shoreline building line and reduce its excessive size.”
Another expressed serious concerns that the development would set an alarming precedent for future development in the area if approved.
Local conservation and heritage bodies also opposed the development with concerns it is out of character, threatens wildlife and will “overwhelm their environmentally sensitive block”.
The old cabin was demolished in July last year (pictured)
Community members were also unhappy with Durie’s plans arguing that the housing would not be appropriate for the area.
The Pittwater Natural Heritage Association said the initial proposal would have a detrimental effect on the movement of wildlife in the surrounding area and does not reflect the ecological and aesthetic values of the area.
‘Council should take into consideration the cumulative effect that developments such as this would have on the tree canopies that are critical to the character of the Avalon area,’ its submission stated.
“If this and similar developments are allowed to continue, over time the tree canopy that gives Avalon its character will disappear.”
The Avalon Preservation Association added: “The current trend of proposing very large homes on environmentally sensitive blocks and consequently destroying much of the block’s native vegetation, albeit with little effect taken individually, constitutes ‘death by a thousand cuts.’ ‘when taken as the new norm.’
Once completed, the property will be Durie’s new family home with his fiancée Ameka Jane, two-year-old daughter Beau and newborn son Nash.
Another expressed serious concerns that the development would set an alarming precedent for future development in the area if approved.
Once completed, the property will be Durie’s new family home with his fiancée Ameka Jane, two-year-old daughter Beau and newborn son Nash.
