New to Oz

[Paterson00]

Hi there,
My family of two boys 9&5 my wife and I were recently granted the 457 visa so that I can work up in the Pilbara on the railway in the mines testing the signalling equipment. I have never been to Oz and am in a bit of a quandary as to where to base myself.

On one hand I have a load of family in Adelaide who have a place I can rent which is 45 mins from the beach, two and a half acres, has stables, a pool and four bedrooms all for $350 a week. I will be on a 19 on 9 off roster so will have to commute across to Adeliade in my own time to see my family. The advantage of living in Adelaide is that I can easily see Melbourne and Sydney etc from there and while I'm working my family will be looked after by my extended family. The other option is to live in Perth so I don't have to fly across the country every month, we are coming over with 7 other employees from the uk who will all live near each other in Perth somewhere fairly close to the beach no doubt. Do I go to my family in Adelaide or leave my wife and kids in Perth while I'm away...?

Hmmm decisions decisions.

Not a bad life is it?

Hope to get some good arguments for and against from you all and get this one bashed out.

[verystormy]

I fifo and to be honest, when you have finshed the stint and get to the airport all you want is to get home asap. That alone would seal it for me and most of the guys i know. Also factor in that the chances of the conncetions working out well are slim and you are likely to find yourself having to spend a night in Perth on the way to work and a night on the way home. That is a fair bit of your break gone.
Add to that the cost of flights - which in Oz are never cheap and the issue that getting rained in and things on site can screw around with the roster occaisonally and for me its a no brainer.

You can still get a nice place in Perth for $350 a week. I have a new house, 3 stories, pool and spa and opposite a fantastic beach for $320 a week and the Indian Ocean is far better for swimming than the Southern.

As for getting to Sydney and Melbourne it is still a flight.

[Paterson00]

Thanks very much for that. It's so nice to get an opinion from someone who is actually up there and knows what the reality is. I will probably have loads of questions for you so I may send you some via PM if that's ok?

I'm really curious to know where you found such a cracking deal on a house. We don't know the areas yet. Someone has recommended Mandurah so we have been looking around there and not found a deal like that. Where do you live roughly if your happy to say? Also which website might you recommend for finding property?

I will be working on the railway up there and I will be starting on the stretch they call 8 mile. Not sure where that is but I'm keen to find out. Also do you know if there are any forums for fifo workers? It would be nice to speak to more so I don't wear you down with my questions.

I'm told that Perth is full of fifo workers and few people settle there on a long term basis because the prices are higher for milk etc.

[verystormy]

Your welcome. I am not now in the North. Company transfered me for two years to the Democratic Republic of Congo. So flying out of Perth doing 6 weeks on 3 off. Been doing it 6 months now and will probably only do another 6 as the money is excellent but its too long away from home.

We are just south of Mandurah. The suburb is called Dawesville and we are in a sub suburb called Southport. Have a look here http://www.portbouvardrealestate.com.au/

It is a small suburb built on a golf course and we have been there 4 years now and enjoy it. The beach is great and is patroled and the golf course has a decent bar and restaurant. The only down side is it can get very windy, but in summer thats nice. The picture at the top of the web page is the area and the villa in the rentals saying price on application is very similar to mine.

Mandurah is a short drive away, though there is a shopping centre close by with a big woolworths and things and all the usual junk food places.

Mandurah is a nice small city and has everything you need and if you want to go to Perth its only 50 mins on the train and the train are cheap ($12 return) and run every 10 mins. But to be honest we dont bother very much. Mandurah is also very pretty and famous for things like dolphins - you can swim with them on our beach, crabbing and fishing are very popular passtimes for the family. There are a lot of fifo staff in Mandurah because it is a nice place to live and it doesnt matter that your not in Perth city as you dont need to go there every day. There is also a mini bus taxi service that runs from Mandurah to the airport for fifo guys thats called Mandurah Mine Line which charges $50. I drive and park at the airport which on my normal week on week off costs about $65, which if there are a few of you is doable even on a 19 day swing as you split the parking cost between you.

The main other realestate web site is realestate.com.au

Never come across a web site for fifo workers. Though there is one for their families called fifofamilies which arranges get togethers and things for the wives and kids stuck at home.

Perth and WA generally is expensive for the cost of living. But there are plenty of people who make it their home. I imagine you will be on good $$$ so i wouldnt worry too much about that. :)