Living on Russell OR Macleay Island and working on the mainland

Hi brunettesrule, just come over for a visit, but really just come here to live. We all asked the same questions when we were thinking of moving here. It all balances out. Yes there are miggies and sandflys, but they can be anywhere at dawn and dusk particularly. Transport: easiest way is to purchace a go card which can be used on all forms of transport around Brisbane, ferry, bus, trains, citycats. Around $7 dollars each way if have a go card and around $9+ dollars if buy a paper ticket. You learn to organise yourself with granny trolleys, of something like a removalist trolley for things you may buy on the mainland, everyone has to use the ferry to get back home, unless you are a millionaire and have your own helecopter or fast motor cruiser! There is parking, which is a bit thin on the ground sometimes, at Redland Bay, long and short term, or you can pay to keep your car in a few private yards near the marina offering this service. Registration of islands vehicles is half the cost of mainland cars, but you do need permission to take them off, which is easier enough to organise. The vehicle ferries run regularly each day also, you can get a Frequent Floater number which allows you about a 10% discount, but it still costs around $90 return, unless you are happy to be on standby, which costs around $50 return, but most people catch the passenger ferries due to cost factors. There is current talk of trial of a ferry service from, probably Macleay, across to Stradbroke which would be good as can access the surf on the other side of Straddie via bus. Daughter: if she likes sport there are tennis courts, a swimming pool on Russell, golf course, sailing and kyacking, swimming enclosures on all islands, Karragarra has the nicest beach. Nightlife and entertainment: Victoria Point or Loganholme have cinemas, restaurants, pubs etc. A pub on Macleay, Bowls club on Macleay, really nice food there, Gold club also on Macleay, food also there, free courtesy buses from the ferries to both clubs. Russell has an RSL Club and Bowls club also and Lamb also has a small bowls club, limited food. Boat clubs on a few of the islands also. Markets on Russell and Macleay, police stations on Russell and Macleay, Karragarra and Lamb are policed by the Redland Bay Police, who come and visit very often via there own quick barge. Don't worry about the dirt roads, many are sealed and most roads are short, a few have problems with dust, but council is trialing a new cheaper method, which they hope will mean all roads sealed within 5 years. Don't worry about undesirables, no more than Hervey Bay or anywhere. You may be surprised you may have more chance of getting a job on the islands with your qualifications than many other people have, some call for what you can offer over here I believe. People are generally more friendly on the SMBIslands than on the mainland, we have found. When you get on the ferry and look at all that beautiful water, you realise how lucky we are to live, basically in small countrytowns, surrounded by water! Downside the inconvenience of the travel back and forth but, to us, the quiet and upsides well outway any downsides.

Town water connected - yes, electricity connected - yes, sewerage - no, only septic on all 4 islands of the SMBI's

If you are looking to build QLD Project Builders have a display home on Russell island worth checking out qldpb com next time you visit.
They also have house and land packages

Read my review about living on Macleay. It's all good. I'm a former Court Reporter so I know what I'm talking about and I've been honest. As I say in that come and dent on Air Bnb for a week and drive around. Look for a good area. You see crap on the footpath or unkempt homes don't live near them. It's not rocket science. In fact there is a shortage on Macleay due to the number of people building here so they are renting g while their homes are going up.
JR

Macleay Island is a fantastic place to live. You feel like a million miles away at times, but realisticly only half an hour away to two of the best capital cities in Australia. (Brisbane & Gold Coast) Why those mainlanders like to sit in traffic for 4 hours a day has got me stuffed. Come over and enjoy being yourself, living in paradise!

Hi are sewerage and electricity etc connected on Macleay Island?