Hi my name is Nick and I have been living in Brisbane now for 6 months. What a place!!! I have emigrated with my partner Julie, our 2 kids aged 4 & 2, the mother-in-law and our dog Boomer. Julie and I lived in Sydney for 3 years before returning to UK for 6 years. After having the kids we realised a better life could be had in Oz. We were a bit nervous as we had not lived in Brisbane but what a place and what great weather. Pity about the drought!!! If I can help out and give any advice then please feel free to send me a mail or reply to this message. I know what you are all going through what with grandparents, family, etc and I always found it easier knowing other people were in the same boat. Be positive, keep the faith and you will not regret it. It's all good as they say round these parts. Cheers Nick
Hi Nick Glad to hear that you've settled so soon. We're (myself, wife and 3 children aged 2, 8 & 13) migrating to Caboolture July '07. My only concern is the drought :shock: How does it affect you and your family? Is it a huge worry for the future or are the government preparing for the future? Cheers Al.
Hi Al Funny you should mention the drought. I work for Brisbane Water. Dam levels are very low at present. The local dam is around 22% full and we are at level 4 water restrictions. That means no hosing the garden. You can with a bucket on certain days. Car with a bucket as well. It has been very dry in the 6 months that I have been here even now when there should be lots of storms and rain. Brisbane Water is building something called the Western Corridor which will take recycled wastewater back up to the dam so it can go through the water treatment process again. The recycled water is very safe but there are a few scarmongerers about. The recycled water is cleaner than the dam water that goes through the treatment process. this should be completed by 2008. The Queensland Govt is also building a desalination plant on the Gold Coast and a water grid to deliver that water throughout Queensland. Then again when it does rain here it rains so the drought could end very quickly and there could be no problem. We have been drinking each others pee in the UK for years so we should be alright Nick
Hi Nick :lol: :lol: :lol: That was wicked :lol: Your last sentence is bang on!!! It's the news we were hoping to hear. Have you any info on Caboolture? Will it be part of the Western Corridor? Is it labled a good or bad area to live? Al.
Hi Nick, We are in the process of emigrating to Brisbane and eventually would like to get my parents to live out here with us. I noticed on your post that you came with your mother-in-law. Was it a dificult process to get your mother-in-laws visa? My parents are retired and would be living with us and would be financially independent. Any advice would be much appreciated. Steph
Hey Taff Apologies for not replying the e-mail notification thing did not work. Not too sure about Caboolture but Brisbane City Council supply Caboolture Council with their water so it should be part of the Western Corridor. My colleague lives in Burpengary near Caboolture and he has never said anything bad so you should be OK. They are basically not Moss Sides, etc over here so you should be OK. I have now been here for 7 months an the weather is peeeeeerrrrrrfect. Better than being stuck indoors. Met loads of people because you are always out rather than stuck indoors. Who are you going to meet indoors? I bet you $100 you won't regret it...Any takers? Boomer
Yo Steph and Tony Again apologies that e-mail thing is crap......bit like the England footy team. McClaren must go.... Anyway, on the parents front make sure you research it in the UK big time. We thought we could get her over here on a tourist visa and it would be easy peasy. Wrong. The options are she goes on some list for about 7 years with no health cover, etc or pay £25,000 plus £10,000 bond (refundable after 10 years) and you can get permanent residency within a year. Not much of an option. The $25k covers health basically. She is going for the $25k option bit really research it before you leave. Cheers Boomer