How Jennifer Hawkins’ $30m mega mansion construction project has infuriated neighbours in one of Australia’s wealthiest areas – as they fume over ‘Taj Mahal-sized’ landmark… and rumours swirl about the blowout cost

Neighbors of a mega-mansion being built by Jennifer Hawkins say it is far too big and does not fit in with its surroundings. They call the structure ‘the Taj Mahal of Whale Beach’.

Hawkins and her husband Jake Wall started work on the $30 million Westfield-style site in December 2022 after receiving approval from Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council for the $3.3 million construction .

After almost two years, the project is still not completed and locals claim that ongoing work costs would have far exceeded the power couple’s original schedule.

One upset resident told Ny Breaking Australia they were fed up with the constant construction, describing it as ‘the biggest thing on the whole peninsula at the moment’.

“It’s so big,” they said. ‘It doesn’t fit Whale Beach, it’s too big and unnecessary. I have anxiety now.”

The resident added that they were concerned that Northern Beaches Council was not receiving the correct fees and taxes on the project, which they believed would now be well above the budgeted $3.3 million.

“I’d say the cost now would be at least $10 million. “I think the council is missing out on all this money because they are not controlling the project,” they said.

They added that there were also serious concerns among locals about how the proposed $30 million home would fit in with the other properties in the area, which had an average value of around $10 million.

‘I want the municipality to properly assess the building and charge the associated costs. We as taxpayers are missing out on a lot.’

Northern Beaches Council told Ny Breaking Australia in a statement that while the costs of the original grant were indeed exceeded, there was no legal precedent for charging additional costs.

“At the time of submitting the development application in 2020, the Council considered the cost estimate report of an approved builder and found no irregularities in the cost estimate,” they said.

“Construction costs have increased significantly since 2020. However, there is no legal basis for charging additional fees for development applications where construction costs have escalated.”

Ny Breaking Australia has also contacted Jennifer Hawkins for comment.

Last year it was reported that Whale Beach locals were furious at the ongoing development as the ‘constant stream of trucks’ continued to block the narrow street and park for ‘hours at a time’.

The power couple started work on the luxury property in December 2022 after receiving approval from the Northern Beaches Council for construction work worth $3.3 million. Pictured: a digital mockup of the completed property

However, almost two years later, the project is still not completed and locals claim that ongoing work costs would have far exceeded the original grant. In the photo: aerial view of the construction site

An upset local resident exclusively told Ny Breaking Australia that they were fed up with the ongoing project, which they have nicknamed ‘the Taj Mahal of Whale Beach’. In the photo: the construction site on the beach

According to the Sydney Morning HeraldThe residents of the surrounding houses were left reeling and a neighbor’s driveway was blocked ‘several times’ for hours.

Meanwhile, another local resident claimed that their front yard had been damaged by cement mixers.

Furthermore, the noise from the renovation had been a constant disturbance to what was once the quietest corner of the peaceful suburb.

Hawkins, 40and her husband Wall, 41, have no plans to live in the property and have reportedly already sold it to a high-profile businessman.

Aerial footage obtained by Ny Breaking Australia last month shows a construction site on the huge plot of land, which is four times the size of the neighboring mansions.

The original 1950s house was demolished to make way for a modern multi-story mansion, including a basketball court, swimming pool and large garage.

The high-quality property will also have an internal lift connecting all three floors, as well as five bedrooms, multiple living areas and a large kitchen.

The property will have breathtaking ocean views and sit atop a beautiful cliff, close to local amenities.

A newly laid sand foundation currently covers the construction site, which spans a double block and sits on a hill overlooking the beach.

The resident added that they were concerned that Northern Beaches Council was not receiving the correct fees and taxes on the project, which they said was now well over the $3.3 million budgeted.

In the photo: the construction site in May 2024

The original 1950s house was demolished to make way for a modern multi-story mansion, including a basketball court, swimming pool and large garage. Pictured in May