Pantyhose and Tropical Gardens - 17/10/02

When Janet Hogan's latest traffic stopping campaign for Voodoo pantyhose hit the headlines earlier this year, who would have thought that the controversial outdoor ad had emanated not from the boiler room of a trendy inner city ad agency but rather her laidback tropical garden in Airlie Beach.

"My partner Ralph and I made the ultimate sea change five years ago, shifting our family and our business from Sydney to the Whitsundays in North Queensland. We'd just reached the point where we felt we should be offering our kids more than a big house in a trendy suburb under a flight path. The fantastic thing is with today's technology, we can have a TV commercial emailed to us in less than ten minutes, which is a lot quicker than battling it out in Sydney traffic to get to an editing suite"

Their latest creative endeavour, however, heralds a big departure from adland. After 10 years of planning and development, the Hogans are about to launch a Whitsundays waterfront property subdivision like no other.

"Botanica Waterfront encapsulates all the best things about living in this beautiful part of the world. The aquamarine Coral Sea lapping at your doorstep, vistas of islands and seascape stretching 180 degrees and dugongs, sea turtles and sea eagles cavorting in your front yard."

It all started in the winter of June 1990 with an inch by inch exploration of the entire North Queensland coast in search of the perfect place in Australia to live. They chanced on 100 acres of hillside with spectacular views of the Coral Sea and only 8 minutes drive from the heart of Airlie Beach.

"The only reason this piece of real estate had been overlooked by the white shoe brigade of the 80s was that the only way to get to it was by boat or through the neighbouring mangrove by army duck" says Janet.

With the consent of friendly neighbours, a roadway into the site was built and Botanica Waterfront was born.

"Because of Botanica's location right on a protected dugong breeding area, getting the development approved meant going through the mill with just about every government department imaginable. It's the only waterfront land like this where you can own right down to a minimal 5 metre esplanade, so understandably the local authorities wanted to make sure we weren't planning on creating another Gold Coast by the sea."

On the contrary, the development will feature environmental covenants and by-laws protecting this rare haven for Whitsunday flora and fauna.

"The building covenants and by-laws will protect forever the rights of every lot owner to an idyllic peaceful lifestyle. Because it's a community title development, no one here will ever again have to put up with obnoxious neighbours, barking dogs and all the other things that can destroy your quality of life."

"Botanica is also a chance for Ralph to bring to life his other great passion: weird and wonderful plants. Enjoying the same climate as Hawaii and the Bahamas, there's just about nothing you can't grow up here. Ralph has always wanted to create a tropical botanic garden and now he's going one better - his own tropical garden suburb. He's probably the only developer in the Whitsundays who falls asleep reading plant books."

Botanica Waterfront will be a small, exclusive community of 11 absolute waterfront lots and 9 generous seaview lots, all with spectacular views, connected to water, with underground power, phonelines and a fully sealed, palm-lined road. A unique opportunity for people looking for tranquility without sacrificing the creature comforts of sophisticated living.

"And while you feel like you're a million miles from the rat race, in fact Sydney is now just a 2 hour direct flight away, and Brisbane even closer. A very vibrant, cosmopolitan community is developing in Airlie itself with BMWs now threatening to outnumber second hand kombis in what has traditionally been a backpacker's paradise."

Local real estate sales reflect the growing demand for property in this lifestyle haven, with sales turnover increasing 50% in the 2001/2001 financial year and $X million worth of development in the pipeline.

"The most amazing thing is you can still buy an absolute waterfront block here with enough room for a sprawling house, swimming pool, garden and tennis court for less than the price of a rundown semi in Sydney's Redfern.

The fact is, if you're looking for opportunities in overdeveloped areas like Noosa or Port Douglas, you've really left your run too late. But Airlie Beach is just on the brink of becoming probably Australia's greatest ever seachange destination. So to anyone who wants the best of all worlds: living on the water's edge, surrounded by nature, in the world's best climate without leaving behind the comforts of cosmopolitan living, I'd say get on that plane now. Or you'll really be kicking yourself."