Jamie Durie’s battle to build $2.7m mansion on Sydney’s northern beaches
The celebrity gardener faced fierce community backlash over the plans for his family waterfront home, which initially included cutting down 17 trees.
Jamie Durie has won council approval to build his $2.7 million waterfront mansion in Sydney after spending $200,000 on redesigns in response to a bitter community backlash.
The celebrity gardener had originally proposed cutting down 17 native trees to construct his six-storey dream home in the suburb of Avalon.
But Northern Beaches Council was inundated with objections from furious locals with over 50 submissions against the plans, which included knocking down the original 1960s cottage on the land.
His neighbour John Sheehan, a former acting judge of the Land and Environment Court, described the plans as “fatally flawed” in his objection to the application and added it was “likely to have serious and irreversible impacts on biodiversity values”.
Another objector said: “If this is a ‘family home’ then homes have certainly blown out when compared to the modest homes that have until now sustained our fragile ecosystem in Pittwater.”
One person added that the proposal was a “gross overdevelopment” given the character of the area and needed an architect to redesign its “excessive” size, proximity to the waterfront and to retain significant trees”.
Pittwater Natural Heritage Association also criticised the plans, saying it would have a detrimental effect on the movement of wildlife in the vicinity.
“If this and other such developments are allowed to continue then, over time, the tree canopy which gives Avalon its character will disappear,” they said.
Durie’s original plans for the build included six bedrooms, a swimming pool, butler’s pantry, two-car garage, music studio and media room, and sought to remove trees including spotted gum, broad-leafed white mahogany, forest oak, grey gum, Christmas bush and grey ironbark.
After the backlash, Durie said there had been “a gross misunderstanding” due to a missing arborist’s report, which showed that some of the trees were actually weeds.
“They’re actually noxious weeds, they’re privet, some of them are affected with termites, some of them have bora, some of them have dieback,” he told Today Extra last year, adding added 1518 native and endemic species had been planted on and around the property.
The landscape designer and horticulturalist said he also sent letters to concerned neighbours to clarify the situation.
However, he submitted new plans after listening to the community’s feedback.
The new development application proposed building four bedrooms instead of six, and reduced the number of trees to be removed to 11.
It also includes a courtyard around one of the spotted gums in the area, which was of particular concern for neighbours.
It has been designated of special significance and also listed by the Office of Environment and Heritage as an endangered ecological community.
Due to the former Manpower stripper’s plans receiving so many negative comments, the council was forced to refer it to the independent Northern Beaches Local Planning for a decision.
It recommended the revised development application be approved.
“The subsequent amended plans reduce the footprint of the building, redesign the facades and reduce the quantum of tree removal from 17 trees to 11 trees,” the report stated.
“This report therefore considers that the proposed impacts on vegetation are acceptable and are appropriately compensated via conditions and new plantings.”
It also highlighted that eight of the 11 trees were either in poor health or affected by termites, while the other three did not need council approval to be removed
The Backyard Takeover and former House Rules star is building the home with his fiancee Ameka Foste. The couple welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Beau, in July last year.
Durie also has an adult daughter from a previous relationship, Taylor, 26, who lives in Los Angeles.