Botanica Property Group is cashing in on the retirement living market, altering its plans for a 1,000 home residential project in Caravonica, 11km north of the Cairns CBD, to turn the northern half of the Deicke Richards designed development into an “improved version of a retirement village”.

The entire site covers an area of 33 hectares and extends for approximately one kilometre along the Cairns Western Arterial Road.

Botanica Property Group director Robert Wallace says they have come to the conclusion that there is a need for a new era in community culture, especially for the over-50s.

“Over-50s are fitter and healthier than ever before and they want to live an active and engaged life,” he said.

The revised design will include film and lecture theatres, art facilities, walking trails, community gardens, pools and aqua fitness facilities, gym and a men’s shed in a secure gated environment.

A big change from the original plan to build more than 1,000 apartments, townhouses and villas with ancillary commercial and community spaces across the site, but Botanica clearly believes the demand is there.