I would like to thank everyone for your time replying & all your very helpful information.

We are still trying to decide what to do as our PR Visa will expire next February. Things are so much different now compared to when we first wanted to go to Oz 6years ago.

All the best
Phil & Family

How do you find it so much different Phil? Do you mean the pound dropping so a lot harder to buy?

IMO
Coming to live on the sunshine coast for the 1st time in this current economy is nearly impossible, jobs are scare a bit like the Uk, many Uk professionals have to retrain to Aussie standards, to get a job, you have to travel, either to Brissie 1.5 hours or to the mines which pays well be you'll never get a job in there.
Australia is a case of not what you know but who you know and you only get to know people through being here for a decent amount of time.
I've got friends here who in the Uk owned houses, sold up came across and due to lack of work and the exchange rate are now in financial trouble. I lost thousands coming here, if i'd stayed in the Uk i would have 10 yrs left on my mortgage now, in stead i'm very heavy mortgaged now until i,m 65.
You have to think about the decision of moving here really through and through, if you want to lose a lot of money for a better life do it, if not stay put.
Sorry to put a dampener on things but this is the truth.

Expensive here but the expats I know are all doing well and none are struggling or thinking of going back to the UK. We haven't been to the UK since we got here (6 - 7 years) but the cost of living has certainly changed since we arrived.
If you just accept that in general EVERYTHING here is more expensive but wages are higher then there will be no shocks.
I think the bigger shock you'll get is the slack attitudes of local businesses, you try getting a decent builder, plumber, chippy etc. It's not a problem though cos there's plenty of decent pommie tradie's here and they'll be the one's you'll end up using.

Hello All just thought i would chip in and say, we have recently arrived here. ( Bribie Island) been 2 months now go tthe kids into school we have just this week sorted our rental ( my brother is now very happy ) all of the things above are probably true. we watch every cent now. but so far worth it. Kids enjoying school here on Bribie the beaches are great and free. we bought a 4x4 only a great wall x240 but it does the job of getting us down the tracks and onto the beach.
now just looking at who to go to for phone and internet and all the stuff that goes with renting.

hope your all well

jason and family