Whitsunday Airport - winner of the following Tourism Whitsunday awards
- 2004: Best Tourism Development
- 2005: Best General Tourism Service Facility
- 2006: Best General Tourism Service Facility
14th June 2010
Whitsunday Airport has now been transformed into a relatively new concept in Australia - a luxury 60 acre private estate airpark called the Whitsunday Aviation Village Estate, or WAVE.
The $75 million gated estate features innovative hanger homes, an asphalt dual taxiway and 1410 metre runway, lush tropical surrounds and a commercial precinct - all characteristics no other airpark in the southern hemisphere can boast.
The estate is the brainchild of private pilot and Whitsunday local Jeffrey Ruddell, who spent six years researching the master plan for Australia's flagship airpark.
"WAVE is designed to offer the ultimate lifestyle for the private pilot," says Mr Ruddell, who holds both a fixed-wing and rotary-wing licence. "Where else can you stroll down the stairs of your architecturally designed tropical home, climb into your aircraft and within minutes reach world famous island resorts and coral reefs?
"As part of my research into the design of WAVE, I visited over 50 airparks in the USA to learn from their extensive experience and build on their best design ideas.
"With this research, and working with expert engineers, we have designed an airpark that offers the ultimate lifestyle for those just as passionate about aviation as myself.
"And what we're creating will certainly give the best airparks in the US a run for their money."
WAVE, located on the site of the existing Whitsunday Airport, has every attention to detail you would expect from a quality airpark development and more.
The runway alone cost more than $4 million to build.
The 1410-metre runway is made of asphalt - not bitumen - for quieter and smoother landings and to eliminate chipping.
Off the main runway there are dual asphalt taxiways that double as access roads leading directly to residents' hangar homes.
Those who buy land blocks have several tropical-living inspired hangar home concept designs to choose from put together by private pilot and architect of over 20 years, Gary Hunt. They can also design their own.
"To date we have seen some fantastic designs where owners have taken advantage of the beautiful surrounding Conway ranges as well as made a feature of the fact that as a hangar home you want to show off your aircraft and be able to see it from many rooms in the house. We have also commissioned Australian Designer of the year Chris Clout to do a series of five house and land packages for the North eastern end. These five very different designs not only look fantastic but provide lots of outdoor entertaining areas to take full advantage of the amazing weather we have here in the Whitsundays. We are really excited to get a start on the first one in the beginning of July" said Mr Ruddell.
A key design element of WAVE is the strong focus on landscaping to ensure the village is in keeping with the natural environment and to minimise noise from the runway. For this as many existing mature trees were protected in the redevelopment as well as over 15,000 more trees and shrubs (with an emphasis on native) were planted. All owners are also encouraged to use natural vegetation for privacy rather than fencing.
Mr Ruddell said that WAVE's location amongst tropical bushland meant he was even more determined to maintain an eco-focus for the village.
"This is such a beautiful part of the world and we are making every effort to keep it that way. We are enhancing natural creeks and building small bridges across them for residents to enjoy the tranquility.
"As much as the private pilot wants to spend every waking moment in the air, we know this is not possible so they need a place where they are happy to fly home to.
"WAVE is not just going to be houses built along a runway in a barren clearing - the village will feel part of the environment and be home to a community of people proud to call it theirs."
Construction was completed December 2008 and the Whitsunday Airport Management team look forward to welcoming you to the new look, smooth landing runway
