Celebrity landscaper Jamie Durie hits fresh wall in dream home plan

Celebrity garden guru Jamie Durie says his neighbours are suffering from “garden envy”, as yet another stoush over his Avalon millionaire’s row development blows up.

Garden guru Jamie Durie’s dream waterfront home has hit another wall and he reckons it has something to do with backyard envy.

The landscape designer has already modified plans for his build along Avalon’s millionaire’s row on the shores of Pittwater after local backlash over the size of the house, then the number of trees being torn down and thirdly the “threat” to colonies of endangered micro bats in caves.

The latest stoush involves retaining walls the former Manpower stripper and recent Masked Singer star has built along the foreshore before he demolishes the original four-bedroom 1960s cottage higher up the slope on the plot.

According to the Northern Beaches Council website, following council’s investigation of the “recently constructed undocumented retaining walls”, a fresh building information certificate application was submitted by Durie.

“Council’s action has been placed on hold pending council’s determination of the application,” the website said.

Garden guru Jamie Durie says he has been hit by backyard envy as he continues to hit hurdles building his Northern Beaches dream home. Picture: Supplied

Durie said on Tuesday that the only problem was “garden envy”.

“Clearly there is some garden envy going on and I might have garden envy with my neighbours,” Durie, who has planted 2000 native plants so far, said.

An artist's impression of Jamie Durie’s proposed waterfront house. Picture: Supplied

“Council has been nothing but supportive of the garden I have created.

“I’m continuing to do the rest of the build and we have build the garden portion on the lower half of the property before the house because that is the most sustainable thing to do before we excavate.”

The horticulturalist and celebrity gardener bought the Riverview Road block for $2.3m in 2016 after selling on Plateau Rd, Bilgola, and plans to spend about $3m redeveloping it.

He has already cut back plans for his six-storey home to remove just two trees, down from 17, and a courtyard design that now wraps around one of the precious spotted gums which has been ­designated of special significance and listed by the Office of Environment and Heritage as an endangered ecological community.

Durie’s Avalon property in September 2021, which he is busy transforming into his dream home. Picture by Julian Andrews

There are also four bedrooms instead of six but there is still a pool and media room for Durie, his wife singer and songwriter Ameka Jane, and their daughter Beau.

He has promised that the new home will be the most environmentally sound development in the area with the rooftops planted out with native vegetation and over 60 solar panels to allow them to live off the grid.

Durie and his partner Ameka Jane. Picture: Instagram

Durie was recently unmasked on reality TV singing show The Masked Singer dressed as the Tiger.

A council spokesperson said on Tuesday: “At this time the Building Information Certificate (BIC) is still under assessment. Additional information has been requested, including architectural plans and an ID survey.

“Once this information is received the adjoining property owners will be notified of the assessment of the BIC.”