Page 75 - Tropic Magazine Issue 24

TROPIC • CONSTRUCTION

Confidence boost

PROJECT MILESTONE
The $90 million Botanica
Lifestyle Resort project reaches
another key construction
milestone.

Around 40 jobs will be created with the
appointment of Cairns construction
company FGF to undertake civil works at
Botanica Lifestyle Resort.
In another key milestone for the
Botanica project, FGF will prepare 49 lots “As long-term local developers, we BOTANICA SNAPSHOT
as well as civil construction of roads and are proud to continue to invest in the
underground services. region and look forward to delivering Botanica will operate as
The appointment of FGF continues something truly spectacular for Cairns’ a land lease community,
a long partnership between the two over 50s,” Botanica director Robert with residents exempt from
companies, with the team behind Wallace said. entrance fees, exit fees,
Botanica Lifestyle Resort first engaging FGF director Chris Barker said the stamp duty, strata levies
FGF more than 30 years ago on the company’s tradies and staff were thrilled and council rates.
highly successful Redlynch Valley Estate to be working on such a unique project
development. in Cairns. Residents also keep 100%
It follows the recent commencement of The connection between the two of all capital gains by
construction on the resort’s first onsite companies goes back even further than owning their home outright
display homes at the Caravonica site. the Redlynch Valley Estate development, and paying a weekly site
The $90 million project continues to with Botanica director Edward Earl and fee for the provision and
record strong sales and inquiries from FGF director Murray Moule sharing a maintenance of the resort
both local and interstate buyers, with family history in Cairns that stretches and its facilities.
over 80% of stage one already sold. back many generations.
The over-50s development is the first of “Our relationship with the team behind If eligible, residents may
its kind in Cairns, presenting a range of Botanica is a very long and successful one also receive government
benefits for residents looking for a safe, and that relationship over many years is rent assistance for a
secure and social five-star resort lifestyle. a huge thing for us,” he said. significant portion of their
This new partnership between the “We first worked together on the first site fees.
Botanica team and FGF will deliver stage of their Redlynch Valley Estate
around 40 jobs, keeping FGF tradies development and it continued on from Over 15 hectares of public
and subcontractors working during a there. We are both local companies who parkland will be delivered
difficult time for the local economy. can sit down together and come up with on completion of the
Botanica Lifestyle Resort is committed the best solutions for each project.” project.
to supporting local businesses and Botanica Lifestyle Resort features seven
contractors, and this latest partnership home designs with two façade options
is another demonstration of that available for each design. MORE: botanicalifestyle.com.au
commitment.
STREETSCAPE BIODIVERSITY

Botanica Lifestyle Resort will be home The expertise that Andrew Prowse brings “The majority of the street trees are
to a unique approach to the resort to the project also ensures meticulous medium sized native trees, many local to
environment with edible fruit trees and planning to exclude any trees with the Cairns area. These are underplanted
individually themed streetscapes. Work- mushy fruit or ones that attract bats, with native grass and groundcover that
ing together with local award-winning avoiding messy streetscapes. A commu- help create a habitat that supports the
landscape architect Andrew Prowse, nity kitchen garden will also be planted local environment such as providing
Botanica will create a distinctly different next to the country club to grow herbs nesting materials for birds,” said Andrew.
resort by giving residents a natural for the country club kitchen and barbe- “In a conventional suburb you often get
sanctuary where they can retreat and que area. All residents will need to do singular trees alone in lawns that don’t
de-stress from a busy modern life. is reach over and grab a sprig or two of actually provide the best situation for
rosemary to add to their barbeque. native wildlife. Using local native plants,
A defining characteristic of Botanica especially for the structural planting of
will be its diverse tree lined and shaded a project, helps considerably in main-
streets, with each street featuring its taining biodiversity, and provides birds
own theme of fruit trees, spectacular and butterflies with an abundance of
flowering plants and ground cover to attractive plants.”
avoid the cookie-cutter style planting
often seen in other resorts.

75 • tropicnow.com.au