Cat123

Mount Isa is an interesting town. We are in our early 20's, married with no kids and have lived here for just over a year now and have found some good but quite a few not so good things about this place.

Our first and major gripe is that is SO expensive to live here. For a 3 bedroom house you will be paying around $500 a week - if you can find a house to rent that is! There are so many people looking for houses and so few houses around its just ridiculous! A one bedroom unit will set you back $300 a week! If you are looking at buying a house you have to pay towards $350 000 to get a decent house (not falling apart) in a decent area! There is hardly anything at a lower price that isn't a complete dump. Houses get snapped up really fast too so get in quick.

It is also really expensive to go anywhere - the cost of flying is criminal. To fly to Cairns you are looking at $600 return for one person - and that is just if you can score 'cheap' flights! To drive anywhere takes ages - Townsville is around 9 hours, Cairns 12.

I also have concerns about our health living here - it is not a place I personally would like to raise children. There is constant monitoring of the mine to make sure the lead emissions are at government standards but there is still lead and other heavy metals in the soil and so the living with lead alliance offers free blood tests to all residents to be able to check their lead levels on a yearly basis. I have lived in other towns and I do notice that I feel unwell more often since living here - but again this is just my experience and many other people love it here.

Having said all that, Mount Isa is a town of opportunities! You can come here with no skills and in a couple of years walk away with all sorts of qualifications and certificates. The mines pay really well and are a central part of Mount Isa. If the mine was to close Mount Isa would be finished. It is a great place to come and make money, however we feel that you dont really get that far ahead because of the high cost of living.

There limited things to do here - especially for teenagers. Young adults are ok - there are 3 pretty good night clubs/pups, but if you dont drink your options are a bit limited (cinema, coffee club, bowling alley, the dam, camping etc). The Irish club has been putting on some really good shows lately (DJ havanna Brown, the Pot bellez etc).

The schools here are great! There are a few primary schools to choose from both state and catholic and two high schools - Spinifex and Good Shepherd. I have worked with Spinifex and it is a fantastic school - i would be more than happy to send my children here (if i had any haha).

Avoid Sunset, Menzies, Pioneer and Mornington - these have a high amount of housing commission housing. I would also be careful about walking around these areas by yourself or at night I dont feel it would be very safe.

Despite our gripes with Mount Isa we have had a good time living here and have meet some great people! I wouldn't say not to come - but instead come with an open mind and a plan, and make sure you get yourself a high paying job!! :-)

We lived in Cloncurry for around a year and a half and loved it! It's small but most of the people are really friendly and welcoming. We are only in early 20's and found lots of other young people and after your initial settling in period, after you meet people there is quite a nice social scene. People are always keen for camping, going to the races, the pub etc! Its a nice place to get a head start and we know lots of people that came for a year or two and ended up there for 20 years!

The shopping isn't great, so you do get good at internet shopping and if you really need something you can pop up to Mount Isa.

Health care is a little lacking (you can no longer have babies in the Cloncurry hospital) but the doctors at the clinic are fantastic and its always easy to get a booking (compared with Mount Isa where the wait is at least a week).

There is a prep to grade 12 state school and a catholic private p-7 school. the state school is not a bad school and has many caring, committed teachers! However the turnover rate is high being a rural school. Most of senior schooling is done through distance education and many students struggle with this (I worked at the school for over a year with the seniors). If your child is committed and hard working though they will be able to achieve high marks and a high OP here.

There are a few rougher streets - mainly just behind the railway track (Uhr and Seymour) but apart from that this town is really safe.

We did like this town but be aware it is pretty far away from everything. To drive to Townsville it will take you 9 hours and flights are unbelievably expensive (around $600 to Cairns for one person, return). But having said that there are high paying jobs out here - come for a few years, make your money, save and then leave (but be careful you don't fall in love with place on the way :-)