Sonia Kruger and her long-time partner Craig McPherson have left neighbours ‘traumatised’ with recent preparatory work for their proposed $6.9 million redevelopment.
The couple purchased the deceased estate overlooking Balmoral Beach in March 2025, paying $16.1 million at auction.
Now, locals have yet again shared their concerns about the ‘vast bulk’ of the intended renovations, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The TV presenter, 60, and the former Channel Seven executive recently reduced the height of their redevelopment, taking 1,250mm off the top of the proposal lodged in November.
Earlier this year, they installed height poles on the site to indicate how tall the side walls of the proposed build will be, planned by Koichi Takada Architects.
However, neighbours have now come forward and slammed the view created by the height poles on the property.
Sonia Kruger, 60, and her long-time partner Craig McPherson have left neighbours ‘traumatised’ with recent preparatory work for their proposed $6.9 million redevelopment
‘We have been traumatised looking at these height poles for the past few weeks as they show very clearly the vast bulk of the building,’ Neil and Jenny Jagger told the council.
The revised 1.06m now covers 25 square metres, or five per cent of the overall building footprint.
Meanwhile, the Minto Planning report states ‘the proposed dwelling is in keeping with surrounding development and is compatible with existing buildings in terms of height and roof form’.
Sonia and Craig will also be reducing the size of the two pools they have planned for the four-level home, resulting in a compliant landscape area of 299 sq m or 40 per cent of the site.
In response to complaints about the kerb appeal of the house, the couple have also included plans to plant flora along the northern and southern boundaries.
Daily Mail has reached out to Sonia for comment.
It comes after it was revealed earlier this year that eight letters of concern were submitted by neighbours about the redevelopment.
One person warned the four-storey dwelling, which will feature two swimming pools, would ‘likely pose a nuisance or significantly degrade our amenity’.
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The couple purchased the deceased estate overlooking Balmoral Beach in March 2025, paying $16.1 million at auction. Now, locals have yet again shared their concerns about the ‘vast bulk’ of the intended renovations
While another requested the height poles be installed during assessment to demonstrate what they described as the ‘excessive bulk and scale’ of the build, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The plans show a four-level home stepping down the hillside, spanning 366 sq m under a concrete roof and incorporating a lift.
Level three is dedicated to the master suite, complete with an outdoor shower, rear balcony, pool and garage.
Level two houses the main kitchen, dining and living areas, along with a butler’s kitchen, pantry, outdoor dining zone and another rear balcony with a pool.
Below that are three additional ensuite bedrooms, a laundry and linen room, while the lowest level contains a small multipurpose space.
According to the application, the swimming pools are designed to blend into the dwelling and surrounding environment.
The existing single-storey home, which is set to be demolished, was previously owned by milk bar proprietor George Psaltis and his wife Hariclea, who bought the property for $31,000 in 1967.
Despite neighbourhood opposition, urban planner Andrew Minto has backed the proposal, stating: ‘It is my opinion that this proposal is worthy of the support of the council.’
Sonia and Craig splashed $16.1 million on the property last year, snapping up the east-facing block for a staggering $4.6 million above reserve.
Marketed as a ‘blank slate’, the three-bedroom, one-bathroom home – described at the time as being in an advanced state of disrepair – had been held by the same family for generations and was promoted as a rare chance to build from scratch on the tightly held Balmoral slopes.
