18 replies to this topic

[Seachange]

Hi everyone,

Hubby and I are considering a seachange to Tassie, within the next year or so. Its really only an idea at the moment, but we are seriously looking into it. I was hoping any of you might have some answers/suggestions for us on these questions:

* We love our boating/fishing and understand that the east coast has some of the best game fishing grounds around...is there good places to live on the east coast or is it best left as a holiday destination? When I say "good places to live" I mean with job prospects and facilities...

* Another option for us is to go somewhere where we can have some land that will provide some additional income. Any suggestions on places that may offer this? And what are some options for utilising acreage?

* If, per chance, hubby landed a job at the proposed pulping mill, would you all hate us?!!

* I understand that Tasmania is a lot colder then what I am used to... my question is though, does the sun still shine thru winter, or is it dreary and grey for months on end? I'm not a cold loving person, but I think I could handle the cold so long as the sun still says hello regularly.

Anyway, we have lots more questions that pop up from time to time, so I'll keep asking as we learn more....thanks everyone.

Regards,
Seachange

[Shane V]

Hi Saeachange,

I'll have a go at number 4...

Quote

I understand that Tasmania is a lot colder then what I am used to... my question is though, does the sun still shine thru winter, or is it dreary and grey for months on end? I'm not a cold loving person, but I think I could handle the cold so long as the sun still says hello regularly.

This really depends. On the west coast most of the winter is pretty grey and wet, although this year has been a little drier and we've had more warmer temps. The east coast, I understand from talking with friends over there, has more sunny warmer days, so if the sun is what you are looking for during winter go east coast. The worst part would be when the winds pick up, now they can be very cold, especially if there is snow about.

[Mystic]

Game fishing I think, centres on the St Helens area, which is a place where real estate prices have gone through the roof in recent years. I doubt there would be a great deal of employment around that area either, unless you are lucky.

What kind of work are you guys looking for?

Hopefully our resident farmer will pull his head out of the dark tunnel he has been hiding in and give a bit of info about land utilisation. One thing about Tassie though, is that the major cities have plenty of nearby rural locations, so if you want both work and a rural lifestyle, it is not too hard to manage.

I think the question about your hubby working at the pulp mill should be will the pulp mill ever exist? Gunns could possibly be bought for less than they need to finance that project, with the share price being heavily slashed during the last 12 months. I would not hold my breath hoping that monster was ever built. If, by some miracle, it went ahead, the workers could not be blamed for its existence, though I strongly doubt there will ever be people working at a mill that is highly unlikely to be built

[Seachange]

Thanks mystic & shane for your replies.

In regards to a location it really depends on where hubby ends up getting a job. But we imagine it would be somewhere probably Launceston to northeast...but its too early to know. Hopefully the north east offers some of the sunny days thru winter that you talked about, shane.

Re my mention of the pulp mill...this certainly is no factor in whether we move or not. Hubby is a power station manager (hence the high stress job) and if the mill exists its another option for work in the power station side of the plant. But part of our seachange is to get out of the corporate high level management so its not really what we want anyway. But we would like to move with him having a good paying job to start with, that way we know we wont come into financial difficulties immediately. And then once we know what we're doing a bit further, then hopefully go more low key. And also, by the way, if the pulp mill is likely to cause any sort of negative effect to the environment then I sincerely hope it does not go ahead.

So as far as work to start with; well we're looking for something to do with industry management, or he'll even go back to his trade which is mechanical fitting.

Mystic, you wrote about having "work and a rural lifestyle"...thats exactly what we're after!

[Mystic]

Wish you all the best of luck. If he has mechanical fitting skills then have you considered looking into positions in the mining industry? Mining is the major employment sector here on the west coast where land is cheap and the lifestyle very relaxed. Winter is usually rather wet, as Shane mentioned above, but you get used to it and the lush green surrounds compensate and remind a person just why the rain is nice.

There are plenty of fringe areas within a 30-45 minute drive of both Launceston and Hobart though, so if you need city employment, it is not hard to find acreages nearby.

[dave]

(1)" is Tassie the answer"........what was the question,

(2) is it high stress, answer....yes Tassie can cure that

(3) looking for employment...yes Tassie can cure that, take a look at the employment sector on the intraweb and poke in Tassie

(4) cheap housing/land ...yep, have a bo-peep at the real estate section on the interweb

(5) fishing... maaaaaate there's no better, Tassie's surrounded by clean clear fresh unadulterated open sea, you name it then it's there

(6) does it get too cold.... nup, no such thing as bad weather just incorrect clothing, dress to the occasion and enjoy the fireside!

I would be there in flash if the minister for enjoyment would allow me!

I thought I would post it twice just in case you missed my other one!....(PSSSSsssssttttt!!!! dont tell Anna or she'll yell at me! and put me in the naughty corner!)

[Mystic]

Dave, but I do like your response to question 6. Oh so true!

[Seachange]

Yeah I liked it too...wise words!

Its not so much the cold that bothers me though, its more just grey dreary days for days on end that get to me. I actually spent a winter in Canada and it was frequently down to less the -20degrees and I found that quite invigorating. But the sun was shining...thats the key for me!

Thanks for replying too Dave...we've been looking at employment and real estate website and are amazed at the possibilities. We own 2 houses here and have to work till we're at least 70 years old, just to pay them off; not much fun in that!

Re fishing, we go to Exmouth WA every year but have to travel 1700km's with a big boat to get there; it takes 2 days. From what we've researched it seems that the fishing grounds off St Helens offer much the same as Exmouth and even if we live on the opposite coast, its still not much of a trip to get there every now and then. Exciting thought!

What's the north coast like for weather and fishing? Say off Burnie, Devonport etc?

[Shane V]

You're right about the distance and time. Our last trip to Hobart we did in 4 hours, and on the way back 3.5, didn't get stuck behind tourists . To the east coast, St Helens is about 6 hours from here, Queenstown. Not too sure about the fishing up north, but the weather is clearer and warmer as well during winter. It seems as though the only place which is cloud covered most of the time during winter is this small pocket in the south west. I wouldn't live anywhere else though.

Loved number 6 myself. well said Dave

[dave]

north coast is or can be very rough, water get's channeled in between Tassie and aus. creating a faster than normal current, (see Sydney to Hobart yacht race), however if care is taken then it is a fantastic stretch of water with all forms of fishing, polargic (spelling) and inshore, from big schnapper to the Chinese fish (whiting or wye-ting)

they are often reffered to as "kidney slappers", grab them by the head to remove the hook and they are hitting you in the back (slapping your kidneys) , very spoilt as far as fishing is concerned, weather wise it would be similar to say the south east of Australia, cold fronts blow through with average temps in winter around 12 - 15, summer days expect low to mid thirty's, we have struck mostly perfect weather everytime we have visited, the second to last time was a "heat wave" with "drought" condition's, LOL!..... the temps were around 26 and it had misty rain for 3 days, crikey our drought went on for 7 years with no rain and temps hitting 54 degs for days on end!

oop's gotta go, the boss is home so I gotta look busy!!

[Seachange]

Thanks again for the replies!

Another question: in reading some other topics on this site, I was surprised that some areas of Tasmania seem to be effected by pollution/smog... I'd hate to move for a seachange and end up livingin smog - what areas are effected?

[dave]

ah you have me there I know very little about the pollution side as i have yet to come across it when visiting,

I know you cant drink the water at Roseberry, why I hear you ask! damn I thought you might ask me that, simple answer is I dont know,

when we pulled up with the Motorhome a few years ago there were warning signs everywhere,

I dont think there would be smog as that needs a low lying valley with a huge amount of carbon monoxide and no wind, not sure if you could get those conditions anywhere in Tassie, rush hour in Hobart hardly constitutes enough vehicles to create smog!

but I'm sure Anna and Shane can answer you better than I

[Mystic]

The Tamar valley has an inversion layer over it which traps airborne particles and is known to suffer from smog. Not sure of any other place in Tassie that suffers this problem. The cleanest and purest air in the world is found in the north west.

The water in taps is fine around Rosebery Dave, but the Stitt River, and possibly a few other creeks should not be used for drinking water. This has to do with local mining operations.

[Shane V]

Not sure any other areas that are affected by smog, will ask around though

[dave]

yes I dont understand it, we stayed in the Roseberry caravan park whilst toodling around and all taps in that park had "do not drink" written on them!

[Shane V]

Not sure why Dave, maybe they draw water from the river??? I can't recall seeing those signs.

[dave]

we didn't actually look around Roseberry that much, in hindsight a wrong move so I cant comment how far the signs went or whether it was just the c/park taps, we could not fill up the tanks of the Motorhome anywhere at the c/park, we were in a hurry to see "other delights"

[Seachange]

Thanks guys! When we move we're planning on renting for at least 6 months first anyway, so hopefully we can choose a really nice area in that time to buy and settle in.

My husband wanted me to ask about digital TV...we've only just got digital TV over here where we are. Do you have it in Tasmania? In all areas? We're looking at upgrading some of our entertainment system, but it pointless if its all going to be redundant in Tassia.... Thanks.

[Mystic]

I have tried using a digital receiver here in the west coast but do not get a signal, the only info I can find about Tassie and digital TV suggests rollout due in the major centres between January and July 2013. Hopefully someone else can provide more info.