Detectives have said they are hopeful missing Gold Coast woman Novy Chardon's body will be found, after they charged her husband John with her murder.

Ms Chardon, 34, disappeared more than three years ago and her husband, businessman John William Chardon, 68, was arrested and charged yesterday.

Career conman Peter Foster is believed to have turned jailhouse snitch in order to help police charge Mr Chardon.

Foster, a convicted conman most recently released from prison in November six months before the end of his sentence, is believed to have given one of the 200 witness statements that make up the police case.

Ms Chardon, a mother-of-two who was born in Indonesia, was last seen at her Upper Coomera house on February 6, 2013, and her car was found at a Nerang train station a few days later.

Extensive searches and a $250,000 reward offered to anyone with relevant information have failed to turn up any trace of her.

Missing woman Novy Chardon, 34, who was last seen on Wednesday, February 6 2013.

Police said reported sightings of Ms Chardon, the lack of a body and the complex nature of the investigation led to the long wait for an arrest.

Detective Superintendent Dave Hutchinson said yesterday’s charge was the result of thorough investigations, rather than any new evidence.

"It's good to get it to this stage but this is not the end," he said yesterday.

John Chardon. (AAP)

Mr Chardon, who is in custody, has been interviewed several times by police over his wife's disappearance but has repeatedly denied any involvement in her alleged murder.

Mr Chardon's lawyer Craig Newport said his client would be defending the charge, which will next be mentioned in court on August 29.

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