jeanmark

Hi

I've been offered a job in both sunshine and goldcoast.
I am a master thatcher of profession www.rietdekkerbron.nl and both companies would like to help to set up a specialist market with me as it is nowhere seen in australia.
I think the goldcoast is much more going on so to start a business I would be maybe better of on the goldcoast?
However my wife likes sunshine coast more.
We have visited both places in 2007 and find it hard to make a decision.
We have two kids in the age of 3 and 6 years old.
Would like to hear your opinion about these 2 places for live and work.

Kind regards ,A dutch family

Reading fan

Can't help you but all the best of luck.

We have built 2 thatched houses, one in Ireland and one in England. Hubby still has a box of thatching ties - he won't get rid of them for some reason.
We are headed to QLD in Nov , good luck with your new life.
Will it be outdoor garden buildings that you will be thatching ?

jeanmark

Nice to hear you are a bit familiar with thatch roofs.
Yes,I will start with thatching gazebos ,pavilions .
I also been thinking about building a new house and finish with a steep pitch thatched roof on it ( if it is allowed by the government) .
First main thing will be is trying to import water reed into Australia.
But I believe there is also water reed phraghmites australis growing in southern australia.
These are all things I have to figure out once I'm in OZ.
Here are some more pictures of work I have done in the Netherlands
http://picasaweb.google.nl/jeanmark2...ey=0uu9Linr7HE

jad n rich

Thatched roofs in qld are mainly only on little huts/patio things around swimming pools. They are not that popular due to the climate, the heat and summer storms are not exactly kind to them, however some people have them. Anything with swimming pools is water related and water restrictions have reduced the amount of pools going in.

So water restrictions would affect your business, wise to check up with appropriate councils on where they are planning to go with water use. Up to now SC has had very few, GC has been quite severe given its damns were full but they went out in sympathy with brisbane which at one stage was on level 6 SC will be affected too, when the water supply is directed to help brisbane.

Basically building a pool now is a bit more of a consideration/cost than it was 5 years ago when you chucked in a hole and filled it up.

moneypenny20

Not sure I'd want a thatched roof on any house I owned here. Apart from being a perfect habitat for spiders, the dangers involved during bush fire season don't bear thinking about. Not sure the councils would allow it for that reason either, but yes you do get them a lot on the pool gazebos.

I'm not sure there would be more or less of a market on either coast. Good luck with it anyway.

Petals

I think they are lovely but possums might be a problem. Also bush fires. Even if you live nowhere near the fire with the wind and embers you get spot fires.

jeanmark

Thanks for the replies

I think the climate in South east Queensland is perfect for a thatch reed roof.
It is not to wet like the weather we have here in the netherlands and in England.
So the life span will be much longer.
U can use a fire retarding and pest treatment for your roof so that doesn't have to be a problem.

www.ozthatch.com.au is one of the companies I could work for.
It seems the bali thatch is pretty populair in Queensland,so if my plans regarding reed thatcing doesn't work out I can always count on this company.
or this www.gazebodirect.com.au .

The main question for us is where to live ,gold or sunshine coast.
Which one would any of you prefer ?

(sorry for my englisch writing ,still trying to improve it,this forum gives me a lot of help )

moneypenny20

I prefer the Gold Coast.

calNgary

For your business i would go gold coast, we live in the hinterland about 40 mins in from coast, i have spent time in assen, enam & the dam think they are spelt right, we have some dutch friends over hear i think you guys will love it GARY

jeanmark

Hi Gary

Assen is close by from where I live ,about 40 km (moto gp Assen )
The other place you mean I think is Amsterdam? wich is the capital city of the netherlands.
Funny to hear about your dutch friends ,do they like living over there?

I would like to run the business from home.
So we are looking for a house on 2000 towards 4000 square meters of land with a nice shed on it for storage.
Not to far from the coast (up to 25 min.)
Wich areas would be suitable for my wishes ?

Markus

jeanmark

Hi moneypen

Why do, are would you prefer Goldcoast above Sunshinecoast?

moneypenny20

Sorry, was that not detailed enough Hard one to be honest - a gut thing. We wanted to be on acreage but close enough to life to not have to travel too far (in Aussie terms). SC seems too quiet to me - pretty, but bland IMO. We have just under 2 acres surrounded by hills, trees and green but are five minutes from the best beaches on the GC and only half an hour to the hustle and bustle part of the coast.

We have two young teenagers and had to take their needs into account. We felt there was more for them in the future here than there would be up on the SC. Just our opinion. Obviously stacks of families with teenagers are loving the SC, not for us though.

There's probably more work opportunity here, not sure about universities up on the SC but we have access to four separate unis here within an hours drive.

Probably more reasons but this will do

calNgary

Hi mate there are loads of plots that size if you get res,rural you can have upto 12m/12m shed with std shed planning take about 10 days, if you look at our web site www.jimboombarelocations.com its got pics of this area, i think assen is the only place ive seen more rain than manchester. I know its a bit naughty but i used to be involved in a race from rotterdam to enam every september how long dose it take you to get to rotterdam. I think you will love oz, try & go onto www.realestate.com.au use post code 4280 for a search, if you need any info just pm, i have been helped so many time from you guys i would love to help you GARY

jeanmark

Hi moneypen

Thanks for the info.
Just visited your weblog.
Just been looking at realestate in Currumbin area.
There are some nice properties over there and close by the beach.
Our children are in the age of 6 and 3 years old ,when we arrive we will take a good look over there.
Would the Currumbin area a good place to set up a business like I have in mind ,outdoor gazebos,pavilions with any kind of thatch on it, you think?

Markus

jeanmark

Hi Gary

Had a look on your website,looks good but for living I think Jimboomba is to far out for us.

Yes, the weather over here in the netherlands can be a disaster especially when you have to work in it like I do.

We will keep your advice in mind.

Markus