Menulog founder’s new mega-mansion

A row between neighbours in one of Sydney's most exclusive suburbs has rumbled on, with construction work starting on a mega-mansion that…

A row between neighbours in one of Sydney's most exclusive suburbs has rumbled on, with construction work starting on a mega-mansion that neighbours fear will block their exclusive harbour views. 

In April 2016, former Russian refugee Leon Kamenev paid $80 million for four houses on Coolong Road in the the wealthy Vaucluse area, making it Australia’s most expensive parcel of land.

Despite local protests and more than two years of planning disputes, the 60-year-old businessman was finally given the green light in December to turn the properties into one French Chateau style mega-mansion.

The development application submitted for the address reveals Mr Kamenev intends to spend $10.13 million on renovations, which includes altering the main house, adding a pool, a gym and a two-storey guest wing.

In today’s market, the property would be worth at least $110million, making it the most valuable in the country.

The new ‘mega-mansion’ will be situated on 4,134 square metres and the project is so vast that 979 cubic metres will need to be excavated.

New photographs from the building site show the project is well underway, with the houses already having been demolished and excavation work beginning.

Kamenev, who co-founded Menulog and is worth an estimated $558 million, initially won approval by the Woolahra Council for a contemporary residence, which also included various living rooms, a study, cinema and garaging designed by Tanner Kibble Denton Architects.

But this was knocked back by Land and Environment Court commissioner Susan O’Neill, who said the DA plans for the house 'represents a monopolisation of the harbour views in the locality’. In December, this ruling was overturned.

Numerous rich neighbours complained about the sheer scale of the construction, citing concern over the potential loss of their own harbour views, the impact work vehicles on the street would have on residents access to street parking, and a lack of consultation between Mr Kamenev and his new neighbours. 

Despite their concerns, the application to renovate was approved and now locals face up to two years of construction work.