Frame Builder considering move to Oz!!

[GIA_Engineering]

quote:Originally posted by Hagarr

aBOUT TO GET MY HEAD BITTEN OFF HERE BUT IF YOU WERE COMING TO oZ JUST ON THE WHIM OF SETTING UP AN ENGINEERING BUSINESS BASED ON AFTERMARKET FRAMES (oops) for motorcycles , forget it!! Full Stop Inverted Commas!!

I have owned my Harris since '83 and most (95%) of motorcycling community wouldn't have a clue as to what it is.

Most "Bike Builders" buy bling and bolt on to standard Jap bikes and why wouldn't you, modern Jap stuff is awesome.

It's only a select few who really appreciate "Owning" a special and putting up with it's intricacies.

Just ask the few on here and others outside of ASF who have dabbled, it's bloody hard work making a living with specialist bikes and or frames, DiCandilo tried here in WA with specialist frames and bikes and if John couldn't make it work I doubt there are many other "Enthusiasts" would have the Passion or money that John had to make it work.

Only my 2 cents worth but if you are a coded welder and want a job get yourself a 457 visa and i'll employ you and then you can do some trickery to my Harris.

Check my website I'm after a good pipe fitter!

Not at all! Your advice is useful.

The original plan was/is for Gav to work as a welder for the money but I (the wife) wondered if there was any scope for him to either join an existing company out there in the same line of business because he is damn good at what he does - and I doubt anyone over there has the same pedigree in terms of experience [:X] Or move our exisiting business over there.

As it happens, with the research done over the past couple of days.. We have come to the conclusion that it wouldn't work over there as you have a far smaller population spread over a massive country. We aren't just restricted to the UK over here because its fairy easy to export to Europe and there is a fair bit of interest out there for what we do... But it is still a niche market! Also it's apparent you have issues registering the frames as it's not a done thing... which sounds like a lot of hassel. At the end of the day these frames dont make huge profits, its a labour of love!

Where do I find your website?

[GIA_Engineering]

quote:Originally posted by Jinx

Escaped to Oz from the Midlands 36 years ago and never went back. Great place to live but the politicians and Transport Department Engineers are total fuckwits. My advice is apply to emigrate and work in the mining/gas sector as a welder. Some huge jobs starting in Gladstone Qld soon and unbelievable amounts of money going to be thrown around. The new emigration policies are going to favour skilled English speaking migrants and these people will be fast tracked. Once you're here there's nothing to stop you from setting up a business in your spare time.

Thanks for your reply - I'll look up Gladstone

[GIA_Engineering]

quote:Originally posted by Hagarr



Check my website I'm after a good pipe fitter!

Found it - sorry I'm new[:I]

[GIA_Engineering]

quote:Originally posted by Jinx

Some huge jobs starting in Gladstone Qld soon and unbelievable amounts of money going to be thrown around.

Do you have any details or pointers of where I can find info? Gladstone looks nice

[wackyrider]

As others have said, Gladston is going to have a few projects going, so there will be plenty of work available in the area. Have a look on www.seek.com.au and you might be able to find something. Property might be expensive here, but with the right skills you can make some very good money here.

[lurch]

quoteo you have any details or pointers of where I can find info? Gladstone looks nice

You can expect high rent/property prices in Gladstone also, so make sure you look before you leap. I lived there for 5 years up until mid 2008 and, if it wasn't for the $ I was making, would probably have left much sooner. It has some good points (especially if you like fishing - which I don't) but it wasn't the place for us.

On the + side there would be plenty of people around with large amounts of disposable income to spend on custom frames etc if you wanted to keep running the business on the side. Might have to consider branching out into the Hardley Ableson market around there though [xx(]....

[GIA_Engineering]

quote:
You can expect high rent/property prices in Gladstone also, so make sure you look before you leap. I lived there for 5 years up until mid 2008 and, if it wasn't for the $ I was making, would probably have left much sooner. It has some good points (especially if you like fishing - which I don't) but it wasn't the place for us.

So it was Gladstone that wasn't for you - not Oz I assume? Whereabouts are you now and what didn't suit you and yours?

Thanks

[Gix11]

Where do you live now? Also, what is it about Aus that appeals to you? I'm a pom and know many poms that have moved here. It seems they like certain areas as well! Some go to the wrong place and think that Australia is shit and then leave again. You'll need a broad mind to adapt to a completely different lifestyle, but if you have that mindset the rewards are endless!

[Jinx]

Gladstone in Qld and Karratha in WA are the places to be for welding and pipework in the gas sector. A good welder or any other tradesman in the WA resource sector can easily earn up to $200k a year. Qld isnt paying as much as WA at the moment but when the LNG plants and new coal mines fire up so will the wages. With 7 major projects about to start this year in Qld we will need over 50,000 workers. Its never looked so good.
http://www.seek.com.au/#
http://www.discovergladstone.com/

[Tony Nitrous]

I turned down a chance for mine related work.
Decided that I didnt move out here to chase the
big money at the expence of a lfestyle.

I've had good times and bad but im still near
the Ocean, have great rides around the dam's
and mountains, have a good choice of everything
I want from Bikes shop's, Places to go, Folk to meet,
stuff I want to buy, I work 5 minutes from home and
havent seen a frost in 7 years. Money doesnt always
get you quality of life.

Tony.J.
Brisbane.

[Jinx]

quote:Originally posted by Tony Nitrous

I turned down a chance for mine related work.
Decided that I didnt move out here to chase the
big money at the expence of a lfestyle.

I've had good times and bad but im still near
the Ocean, have great rides around the dam's
and mountains, have a good choice of everything
I want from Bikes shop's, Places to go, Folk to meet,
stuff I want to buy, I work 5 minutes from home and
havent seen a frost in 7 years. Money doesnt always
get you quality of life.

Tony.J.
Brisbane.

Very true Tony. I'm on good money, live in Brisbane but work in Western Australia. I work in the desert and live in a camp. Only see my family for 1 week in every 4. Be glad when Brisbane starts some decent construction projects and I can go home every night and ride my bikes on a weekend .

[lurch]

quote:Originally posted by GIA_Engineering
So it was Gladstone that wasn't for you - not Oz I assume? Whereabouts are you now and what didn't suit you and yours?

Thanks

Correct, I'm a born and bred Aussie. We liked being on the coast but both of our families and long-term friends were elsewhere so we made a "lifestyle" choice and moved back to Toowoomba in QLD to be closer to them. Mining and construction projects are starting to pick up west of Toowoomba but there's no big $ to be made in the town itself for most.

Gladstone can be a difficult place to maintain a circle of friends since people are coming and going with construction projects all the time. That really pissed my mrs off because she was home alone 90% of the time as I travelled around central QLD during the week for my job. The other issue is that it can be difficult to avoid looking at the ugly alumina refinery, power station and coal stockpile/loading dock within the city limits. You don't have to travel far at all for better scenery though.

Chances are moving there would be a temporary measure and a stepping stone for a skilled welder/fabricator anyway. A lot of the construction industry work for welders in Oz is fly-in-fly-out from major cities so you could be based somewhere nice while hubby goes off and makes the big $ .

[hungrywolf]

Go to QLD. the weathers great, and they know how to play rugby league (I'll avoid calling it football so as not to confuse). I lived in Brisbane for the first 25 years of my life, and I am now in Wollongong, NSW. Can't wait to get back up north. Also, registration is so much easier. My bike is still reg'd in qld.

[GIA_Engineering]

quote:Originally posted by Gix11

Where do you live now? Also, what is it about Aus that appeals to you? I'm a pom and know many poms that have moved here. It seems they like certain areas as well! Some go to the wrong place and think that Australia is shit and then leave again. You'll need a broad mind to adapt to a completely different lifestyle, but if you have that mindset the rewards are endless!

We're in the midlands - Nottingham. Living near the sea is really appealing to us both. We hate how crowded life is around here... gardens getting smaller and smaller as people build houses in them!

When we visited Brisbane we loved the weather (of course), the laid back/no class attitude of the Aussies. BBQ's! And excellent seafood (myself anyway) Everyone we met seemed happy to be alive and you all love your country! Here everyone is constantly moaning about something and our streets feel more unsafe each year! I worry for our kids future and want to give them a better and more healthy life. I dread them growing up into teenagers and being torn between keeping them safe indoors and letting them grow up in the big bad world! I also loved how the roads are so smooth and wide and everything was clean. The spiders and snakes scare the shit out of me but thats about the only negative.

[GIA_Engineering]

quote:Originally posted by Jinx

Gladstone in Qld and Karratha in WA are the places to be for welding and pipework in the gas sector. A good welder or any other tradesman in the WA resource sector can easily earn up to $200k a year. Qld isnt paying as much as WA at the moment but when the LNG plants and new coal mines fire up so will the wages. With 7 major projects about to start this year in Qld we will need over 50,000 workers. Its never looked so good.
http://www.seek.com.au/#
http://www.discovergladstone.com/

Thanks - thats really useful

[GIA_Engineering]

quote:Originally posted by lurch

quote:Originally posted by GIA_Engineering
So it was Gladstone that wasn't for you - not Oz I assume? Whereabouts are you now and what didn't suit you and yours?

Thanks

Correct, I'm a born and bred Aussie. We liked being on the coast but both of our families and long-term friends were elsewhere so we made a "lifestyle" choice and moved back to Toowoomba in QLD to be closer to them. Mining and construction projects are starting to pick up west of Toowoomba but there's no big $ to be made in the town itself for most.

Gladstone can be a difficult place to maintain a circle of friends since people are coming and going with construction projects all the time. That really pissed my mrs off because she was home alone 90% of the time as I travelled around central QLD during the week for my job. The other issue is that it can be difficult to avoid looking at the ugly alumina refinery, power station and coal stockpile/loading dock within the city limits. You don't have to travel far at all for better scenery though.

Chances are moving there would be a temporary measure and a stepping stone for a skilled welder/fabricator anyway. A lot of the construction industry work for welders in Oz is fly-in-fly-out from major cities so you could be based somewhere nice while hubby goes off and makes the big $ .

Thanks for your honest account... Am I right in thinking the upcoming projects in Gladstone would mean he could earn good money and come home at night? Our kids are very young and I wouldn't want him to work away if possible. Maybe we could go there in the beginning to get some money behind us.... We would prefer Brisbane really.

[lurch]

quote:Originally posted by GIA_Engineering

quote:Originally posted by lurch

quote:Originally posted by GIA_Engineering
So it was Gladstone that wasn't for you - not Oz I assume? Whereabouts are you now and what didn't suit you and yours?

Thanks

Correct, I'm a born and bred Aussie. We liked being on the coast but both of our families and long-term friends were elsewhere so we made a "lifestyle" choice and moved back to Toowoomba in QLD to be closer to them. Mining and construction projects are starting to pick up west of Toowoomba but there's no big $ to be made in the town itself for most.

Gladstone can be a difficult place to maintain a circle of friends since people are coming and going with construction projects all the time. That really pissed my mrs off because she was home alone 90% of the time as I travelled around central QLD during the week for my job. The other issue is that it can be difficult to avoid looking at the ugly alumina refinery, power station and coal stockpile/loading dock within the city limits. You don't have to travel far at all for better scenery though.

Chances are moving there would be a temporary measure and a stepping stone for a skilled welder/fabricator anyway. A lot of the construction industry work for welders in Oz is fly-in-fly-out from major cities so you could be based somewhere nice while hubby goes off and makes the big $ .

Thanks for your honest account... Am I right in thinking the upcoming projects in Gladstone would mean he could earn good money and come home at night? Our kids are very young and I wouldn't want him to work away if possible. Maybe we could go there in the beginning to get some money behind us.... We would prefer Brisbane really.

Yes, depending on the project of course. For example - the gas pipeline associated with the upcoming LNG plant (http://www.glng.com.au/) may require travel as it's 420km long while the plant itself is close to town.

[Jinx]

quote:
Thanks for your honest account... Am I right in thinking the upcoming projects in Gladstone would mean he could earn good money and come home at night? Our kids are very young and I wouldn't want him to work away if possible. Maybe we could go there in the beginning to get some money behind us.... We would prefer Brisbane really.

I went to Nottingham in 1973 so I understand you wanting to leave . The bulk of the work at Gladstone is 3 of at least 6 gas to liquid plants and loading facilities on Curtis Island. No reason not to be home every night if you live in Gladstone or close by. Send for the forms and do it. Australia House was in the Bullring in Brum but not sure about now.
http://www.qgc.com.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=464
http://www.energyskillsqld.com.au/in...-in-queensland

[Gix11]

quote:Originally posted by GIA_Engineering

quote:Originally posted by Gix11

Where do you live now? Also, what is it about Aus that appeals to you? I'm a pom and know many poms that have moved here. It seems they like certain areas as well! Some go to the wrong place and think that Australia is shit and then leave again. You'll need a broad mind to adapt to a completely different lifestyle, but if you have that mindset the rewards are endless!

We're in the midlands - Nottingham. Living near the sea is really appealing to us both. We hate how crowded life is around here... gardens getting smaller and smaller as people build houses in them!

When we visited Brisbane we loved the weather (of course), the laid back/no class attitude of the Aussies. BBQ's! And excellent seafood (myself anyway) Everyone we met seemed happy to be alive and you all love your country! Here everyone is constantly moaning about something and our streets feel more unsafe each year! I worry for our kids future and want to give them a better and more healthy life. I dread them growing up into teenagers and being torn between keeping them safe indoors and letting them grow up in the big bad world! I also loved how the roads are so smooth and wide and everything was clean. The spiders and snakes scare the shit out of me but thats about the only negative.

The weather is great up here, although as a pom you will hate the hot summer days (40+ when it gets cooking), but compared to England you spend about 4 weeks compalining about the heat and love the rest of the year, whereas in England you enjoy 4 weeks of the year and complain about the rest.

Seafood - can't beat it. Fresh Snapper or Barramundi makes you wonder what the hell fish you used to eat.

The feeling of being unsafe is media driven. I reckon the problems have alsways been there but media makes money out of glorifying them and so now people see it everywhere. The Gold Coast has had a lot of murders in the last few months (morbid but true), but if you look into it, the economic climate has taken a lot of jobs, and the real useless thugs have lost all hope and now they're fighting to survive and sometimes it gets messy. Boil it down and they were drug dealers and theives anyway, but this happens everywhere. On a more basic level, I can still leave things in my car in full view and know they will be there when I get back. Try saying that about England. Think smart and stay away from trouble and you are safe.

Most good riding roads are in the country and so you have to take a chance with their upkeep. They have a trend for filling holes with gravel. A great combination on any bend whilst riding a bike.

Spiders and snakes? Yea, I live in the bush and we have both around the house, they only scare you for the first few months/years of moving to Aus, after that you realise you bought the hype and their fine. Stick your head in a crocodile's mouth and you may get bitten - leave them be and you all live happily. 16 years and no bites or trouble.

[BillyWhizz888]

Work in WA....
http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/7132.aspx

http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/documents/P..._June_2011.pdf

check out pages 30 onwards, this gives you a slight indication of what projects are coming up
page 34 gives you rough numbers of required personnel 51,783 thats right 51 thousand, and thats without the projects on 30 naming their numbers, you can add another 20,000 to the above

remember thats new projects, all projects are struggling to attract people, top trades on the right jobs are earning $300,000 plus on remote projects, wages in town (Perth) are rising as most are working remote

At then end of the day all of Australia is gods lucky country it doesnt matter where you live as companies will fly you in and out