Controversy is deepening at ‘Australia’s most romantic venue’ (Australian Traveller Magazine), with roughly 30 people publicly protesting the activities of boutique Whitsunday wedding business Villa Botanica last weekend.
In a letter to the editor in last week’s Guardian, Villa Botanica’s manager Janet Hogan said opposition to the current development application (DA) for 80 person weddings, in the rural, residential-zoned suburb of Woodwark, was orchestrated by a “small” group, “based on emotion and fiction rather than fact”, however a significant number of lot owners, their families and supporters have disagreed.
The Hogan’s immediate neighbour Dagmar Thomsen (who has objected to the DA) said, “This is not about submissions for or against. It’s about one family (the Hogans) against 40 families”.
“Council needs to realise what they could be opening up (if the DA is approved). Anyone who has a beautiful house or garden could do this. We’ll have no residential land left,” she said.
Chairman of the recently formed Botanica Lot Owners Group Warren Hancock said Saturday’s gathering was merely a prelude to a potentially larger protest, which would be timed to coincide with a wedding.
“At this stage we’re looking to organise a peaceful protest around the time of a wedding. We’re not trying to create any disruption; we just don’t want to be overlooked. It’s important that people know what’s happening.”
“One of the main tasks we set ourselves was in response to the Hogan’s propaganda about having no complaints. The lot owners wanted to make sure council knew more than half of us were objecting to this and wanted to be heard,” Mr Hancock said.
Ms Hogan said the gathering was a publicity stunt and if the protesters were sincere “they would have stood at the gate for three or four hours to count the traffic”.
“I could have people waving placards in the street saying ‘save our business’ but I don’t believe that’s the right way to approach this. This has to be decided by facts not pressure. Hopefully council will have the common sense to see this for what it is.”
“All we are doing is changing our business model from fewer guests, more weddings to more guests, fewer weddings. I’ve listened to anyone with a valid concern and addressed it. We want to operate as a responsible business,” she said.
Villa Botanica will appear on Channel 7’s Better Homes and Gardens on Friday May 20 at 7.30pm.
These residents have a right to voice their opinion, but they do not have the right to disrupt, taint or ruin an innocent couple's wedding day by protesting outside their wedding venue. They don't deserve that. Save your protest for a day when a happy couple aren't celebrating the most memorable day of their lives and be happy that this local business is bringing tourist dollars to the region every time there is a wedding at the Villa Botanica.
ReplyDeleteFuture Bride
Airlie Beach should take whatever tourism it can, nothing has changed there except the inflated prices for substandard services in the 15 years I have been going there. It is not only the Hogan family that make money from weddings, but the surrounding accommodation houses, restaurants, islands, day spas etc from all the guests coming to the wedding. When you are paying in excess of $35000 for a wedding, you can expect there is much more being spent on wedding-related activities such as day trips to islands, beauty salons, shopping boutiques etc. Villa Botanica should be considered to be a treasured asset to the region and it's economy, not a hinderance. From a More Than Satisfied Former Villa Botanica Bride
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