By: jjlaas
28/04/2008
6:54 am Yahoo! Profile:
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| Researching Townsville for relocation early in 2009. First considered Perth, but it is too big, sounds slightly dangerous, and is still cold in the winter. Used to tropical climate (originally from South Africa - North KZN coast), live in NSW now. Just wondering how good is employment and rental possibilities there? Any public transport and good beaches. (I know a person is not allowed to swim some parts of the year). Any comments, positive and negative, will be helpful. |
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By: shazza.joey
28/04/2008
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| hi lived there for 3 years just like a big country town it has bus service, taxi's, so if you don't own a car you have transport. doesn't get 2 cold a light jumper is all that is needed in winter been 8 years since we left so don't know about the job prospects or rentals pretty high like every where i would say hope this helps |
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By: pathogan70
28/04/2008
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Townsvilles the go if you want to work for the government or in mining, but theres little else there.
But then again, I'm biased towards Cairns... |
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By: jjlaas
29/04/2008
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| A bus service and taxis sounds fine. Do have one car, but my partner will probably need it to get to work as he is a fitter and turner. We have found that his line of work is based in areas with no public transport in most towns. Townsville rents seems do be cheaper than Perth though. The average house rental (and there isn't many available) is about $400-$500 per week. Townsville's rentals seem to be in the price range $250-$400, depends what a person is looking for. |
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By: jjlaas
29/04/2008
6:25 am Yahoo! Profile:
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| Well, as mentioned my husband is a fitter and turner, so he should be able to find employment in mining. I'm studying towards a degree in Information management, so that basicly means working for the government at any type of library or information service company. The problem is just to get into those type of companies! Cairns also sounds nice, but we are a little scared to make our move there as we are not sure what job prospects are like. Heard that it is mostly a tourist destination town, with little job prospects, is that true? |
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By: bigol1964
29/04/2008
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Townsville is a great city, I work there now andam moving back again soon.
There will be tons of work for a tradie up here. Whereas in Cairns there is only work as a waiter, cop that pathos 8-}
Only down side it gets damn hot in summer.
. |
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By: monkey_pie1
29/04/2008
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There's heaps of work in Cairns for tradies at the moment. Dunno how many places are looking for waiters, though ;)
I was in Townsville a couple of weeks ago and there is so much construction going on there at the moment. It's a pretty big place. I noticed that it seems to increased in size quite a lot over the last few years. |
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By: jjlaas
29/04/2008
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| Great to hear a reply from Townville. Do not think the heat is a problem, used to live in a sub-tropical area with one season all year round - absolutely loved it. We are stuck in a small town close to the snowy mountain in southern NSW at the moment and it is absolutely horrible. Not really the town, but the weather - we hit minus 3 this morning, and maximum of 6 degrees during the day. Absolutely dying of cold,just dreaming of sun, and the beach. So by the way, any good beaches there? |
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By: jjlaas
29/04/2008
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| I watched an online video of Townsville and it actually shows some of the constructions etc. That is the downside to growing towns, always building everywhere. Just hope employment possibilities also grows by next year - really thinking of moving there right now. How far is Cairns from Townsville? |
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By: shadowhunter80
2/05/2008
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Hi,
I'm in Townsville too. Cairns is about 350km away. Seems to be a lot of FIFO and DIDO work in the mines at present. May be more soon too as there are a few sites being explored just west. They always want fitters. Even Yabulu just out of town is usually looking.
Apparently it can be quite hard though to get a rental property from some of the articles lately in the local paper. that said though our neighbours house was vacant for about 2 months. honestly I think if you start early looking for a house/apartment you shouldn't have any problems.
There is also beach aka the strand with rockpool and stinger nets. Within walking distance of the centre of town. Few good swimming holes just north of here as well.
Let us know if any other questions. |
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By: mrs_westyofoz
4/05/2008
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| I am an hour south of townsville rental prices are a heap lower than townsville , plenty of work in the mills for fitters and turners. 3bedroom home is about 200 a week with aircon , try www.mccathiesrealestate.c om.au it has a few on there but there is more available. Town is up and coming especially since its near to Townsville , near to Bowen and Airlie Beach and near to Collinsville where they have just been approved for a new mine. |
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By: ol_whal
5/05/2008
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| Thought you might be out at Charters Towers for the country western deal this weekend mrs_westyofoz |
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By: mrs_westyofoz
5/05/2008
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| Nope off to the tablelands for a taste of winter on Wednesday for a week instead. |
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By: jjlaas
8/05/2008
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Thanx for the info on Townsville. Hopefully our timing will be spot on for early 2009, some or other time the mines (and affiliated companies) will start looking for workers. It is hard to get a rental property everywhere in Australia, although some areas are really, really bad - eg. Mackay. In the big cities like Brisbane it is also hard because it is so big, you struggle to get something in a specific suburb. Townville seems big, but not so big, and suburb shouldn't be such a problem. Compaired to the major cities, how big is Townsville. Also major traffic congestions etc?
Swimming sounds so great right now, currently live about an hour from the Snowy Mountains - as you can imagine it is freezing. Can not think why people want to live here - miserable! Then again, you get sunshine people and cold weather people.
Do you know how may libraries, publishers, or information service companies are in Townsville. Just curious as I am studying towards a degree in that area.
Enjoy your day! |
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By: jjlaas
8/05/2008
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| Once we live in Townville it will be easier to look around that area. We would however hate to be in the same situation as we are now - small town with only one or two big companies to work for. A person feels trapped as bad working conditions has to be accepted if there is nothing else available. |
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By: fembearbbw
8/05/2008
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| I lived in Townsville most of my life, left there in 1996 for medical reason for my kids.... went back there in 2003 it had grown alot, I would move back but its not big enough for me and my ex husband that still lives there so now I'm south of there |
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By: bigol1964
8/05/2008
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jj
Townsville has a pop of 160 000+ it is a major port, it supports the mining industry of NW QLD and it has a tonne of industry, you can job shop for years.
I'll be moving back myself in the next few months, I love it; should never have moved.
. |
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By: nessa_sarily_so
8/05/2008
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| ...really hot & muggy |
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By: shadowhunter80
9/05/2008
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The two 'cities' have just merged councils so the council should now have 3 library locations. The council website lists vacancies as well.
JCU also has a library.
Just be aware when you move that the northern beaches suburbs are beautiful to live in but can have a bit of traffic coming into town 8am, 3pm and outgoing 5pm. Only one road out of Bushland beach too. Main roads is going to upgrade shortly anyway. And the Ring road ("motorway") can't be too far off of opening. |
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By: jjlaas
11/05/2008
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The population of 160 000+ sounds big in comparison to where we live now; however, it sounds better compared to Brisbane. It was way too big for my liking. I like a town where it can take you 15-20 minutes to drive through, with enough shopping and facilities to be happy, but not overloaded with choice.
Good luck with your move back there, hopefully we can also be there next year. Only reason we are waiting so long is that we are planning a trip overseas to visit our family in December. |
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By: jjlaas
11/05/2008
5:38 am Yahoo! Profile:
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| Hot and muggy sounds better than freezing and shivering! I come from a hot and muggy place originally, do really miss it. |
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By: jjlaas
11/05/2008
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Thanx for this info, it is really helpful. I gather you referred to public libraries? I know there is a big university and army base there - both of these will also have big libraries.
Is there a lot of bus services available from the northern beaches area (any area in Townsville that do not have these facilities?). I gather the northern beaches are also an expensive area?
Can you tell me what area in Townsville is the 'industrial area'? Things like big mills, mines, workshops etc. Some towns have a predominant area where most of the industries are situated. |
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By: bigol1964
12/05/2008
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jj
The main industrial area is Garbutt and the Bohle, with a copper refinery and zinc refinery to the south and another zinc refinery to the north at Yabulu.
. |
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By: switters_au
18/06/2008
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| Nickel/Cobolt refinery to the north, not zinc. I work in the mining industry and believe me, there are hundreds if not thousands of vacant positions. If you want local work, the main industrial areas are Bohle, Garbutt, Stuart, and the Port. If you don't mind FIFO work, then anywhere in north western Queensland flies out of the 'Ville. I do week-on/week-off, so every second week is a holiday! |
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By: stephanofmoorna
20/06/2008
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I live and run a business about 80 Km south of Townsville (Small town of Ayr) and can honestly tell you that there's more vacant jobs than you can shake a stick at for tradies.
I only returned to the area 18 months ago after living in central Victoria for 12 years, but now I've finally got back here no way will I ever head south again to live.
I can say much about the rental market as we have our own place, but I have been told that the average rent per week sits around $300-400 depending on what you're looking for, but there are still a lot of far cheaper houses available if you're prepared to lived out in the countryside more.
For example, rents around Ayr vary from $150 per week upward.
Townsville has a lot going for it as cities go, but I still prefer the country over any city. |
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