Jamie Durie to start building controversial Avalon home after DA approved

It’s been a “harrowing” three-year journey resulting in 50 objections from community members but Jamie Durie has finally had plans for his controversial Avalon home approved by council.

It’s been a “harrowing” three-year journey resulting in 50 objections from community members but Jamie Durie has finally had plans for his controversial Avalon home approved by council.

Saturday Confidential can reveal that the celebrity landscape designer and horticulturalist had his development application approved last week and building on the $2.7 million family home will begin immediately.

“We had our second panel discussion last month and it was a robust discussion and we responded very calmly to all the queries and the panel went away and deliberated that afternoon … then finally got a notification we had been approved,” an elated Durie told Saturday Confidential.

The 51-year-old said despite having been involved with the building and renovation industry for 25 years, this was the most stressful situation he and his wife Ameka Jane had experienced.

“I can tell you right now, if you want to lodge a DA in Avalon it will be the most harrowing thing you have done in your life,” Durie said.

Jamie Durie’s home has solar panels and natives planted on the roof.

“I have spoken to close to 20 to 30 people in the last six months who have decided to not lodge their DA because of the circus this has created.

“It is sad because Aussies are giving up on their dreams because of public scrutiny and keyboard warriors.

An artist's impression of the proposed waterfront house.

Gardening guru has planned lot of greenery.

“However, Northern Beaches Council and their offices in the relative departments of biodiversity and planning were both supportive and fantastic through the whole process.”

Durie is calling for major changes to be made to the DA process.

“I am not sure this system works,” he said.

“They are inexperienced, they are not professionals in the building industry or the environmental sector and they are allowed to publish and amplify their voice regardless of the authority or the intellect behind the statement.

Jamie Durie, wife Ameka Jane with their daughter Beau with dogs Chuck and Luna. Picture: Tim Hunter

“We live in a democratic society and everyone deserves to say their piece but I believe there should be a much more regimented system in the publishing of these comments.

“It is an invasion of privacy having our meetings talking about, our family home uploaded on the internet for everyone to see.”

An artist's impression of the proposed waterfront house.

Durie came under fire last year when his original plans, which included the removal of trees, were made public.

At the time, Durie said there had been “a gross misunderstanding” due to a missing arborist’s report, which showed that some of the trees were weeds.

“Our objective was to create the most environmentally sound development in the area,” he said. “All rooftops are planted out with native vegetation and over 60 solar panels are to go on the building which will give the home the ability to be off the grid.”