Neighbours of a mega-mansion being built by Jennifer Hawkins say it is way too big and out of character with its surroundings, dubbing the structure ‘the Taj Mahal of Whale Beach’.

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

After almost two years the project has still not been completed and locals claim the ongoing work costs would have far exceeded the power couple’s original planning submissions.

One upset resident told Daily Mail Australia they were sick of the ongoing construction and described it as ‘the biggest thing in the whole peninsular at the moment’.

‘It’s so huge,’ they said. ‘It’s out of character with Whale Beach, it’s too big and unnecessary. I have anxiety now.’

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

‘I’d say the costs now would be a minimum of $10million. I think the council is missing out on all this money because they are not checking up on the project,’ they said.

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

Jennifer Hawkins and her husband Jake Wall’s development of their $30million Westfield-style mega mansion in Sydney’s Northern Beaches has reportedly exceeded its approved budget – and local residents are not happy. Both pictured

‘I want the council to assess the building properly and charge the appropriate fees. We as the ratepayers are missing out on a lot.’ 

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

‘At the time of the lodgment of the development application in 2020, Council considered the cost estimate report prepared by a licensed builder and did not find any irregularities with the cost estimate,’ they said.  

‘The cost of construction has substantially increased since 2020. However, there is no legislative basis to charge additional fees for development applications where construction costs have escalated.’

Daily Mail Australia has also reached out to Jennifer Hawkins for comment. 

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

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

However, almost two years later the project is still not complete and upset locals have claimed the ongoing work costs would have far exceeded the original grant. Pictured: Aerial view of the building site

One upset local exclusively told Daily Mail Australia that they were sick of the ongoing project, which they had nicknamed ‘the Taj Mahal of Whale Beach’. Pictured: The beachfront construction site

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, residents in the surrounding homes were reeling and one neighbour had his driveway blocked ‘on several occasions’ for hours. 

Meanwhile, another local claimed their front lawn had been damaged by cement mixers.

On top of that, the noise coming from renovation had been a constant disruption to what once was the quietest corner of the peaceful suburb.

Hawkins, 40, and her husband Wall, 41, do not intend to live in the property and have reportedly already sold it to a high-profile businessman. 

Aerial footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia last month shows a construction site set up on the enormous plot of land, which is four times the size of neighbouring mansions. 

The original 1950s home was demolished to make way for a modern multi-level mansion that will include a basketball court, swimming pool and large garage.

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

The property will have jaw-dropping oceanside views and sit atop a stunning cliffside close to local amenities.

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

The resident added that they were worried the Northern Beaches Council were not receiving the right fees and taxes on the project, which they said was now well over the budgeted $3.3m

Pictured: the building site in May 2024

The original 1950s home was demolished to make way for a modern multi-level mansion that will include a basketball court, swimming pool and large garage. Pictured in May