Josephine Riley

My partner has lived on Russell for 10 years, built three homes in totally different locations. He has never had a problem with druggies. He is selling a block of land with a container in it which is housing some of a new kit home in it. The land is a lovely cleared block near to where he built his previous home at the end of this Street. He is selling this block with all tests done, was ready to build when he decided he wants to travel around Australia so bought a caravan. He listed the property with an agent and has had interested buyers but they've pulled out because they heard a"rumour" there were druggies in the area. What total rubbish. He wouldn't have bought this block if that was the case, knowing this area having actually lived there for some time. It could be a rival agent, but who knows. It's just not true. The island has been cleaned up a lot. Lots of building going on and quality tenants due to scarce rental availability has driven out many of the undesirables. The area is in and around Port Street, Moreton Outlook, Cook Street. It's a very quiet neighbourhood. Whoever is doing this is ruining the island's.good reputation.
Jo54

I have felt very safe and my surrounding neighbourhood is just perfect.

I've only lived on Macleay for 18 months. It's been a big adjustment from Surfers Paradise. The longer I'm here the more I'm loving it. I personally wouldn't live in the middle of the island. I'm enjoying my tidal property on the eastern side. It takes time to adjust to having to use a ferry but it's only 18 minutes. People in Brisbane use ferries into the City which takes a lot longer than 18 minutes. Then if you live in Sydney using the ferry system - well, I shall say no more about that. I just don't know or understand why the travel to the islands has to be such a drama. I'm on a pension so it's quite cheap. Then if you hop on a bus you pay no more for the remainder of your travel.

Yes, I too look at some of the people on the ferries and think to myself, oooh, do they live on my island!!! However, I never see them once I'm on my island paradise.. I live in a nice area where I only see my neighbours when walking their dogs. Albeit that houses and is cheap one does need to be observant of the neighbourhood you are looking to buy in. Very very cheap is for a reason. First agent I used never took me to the home I bought on the rim - probably because it was actually cheaper than others inside the island. I didn't want anything he showed me so tried another agent. To my surprise she brought me to my home outside which were three real estate signs, one of which was the agency I'd gone around with the previous day. So if you are planning to buy, either use all the agents or stay at an Air Bnb for a week and drive all around the island by yourself.

My friends so love to visit when they can. They still work but don't whinge at all at the cost of the ferry because they have a Gocard. So it would be advisable to tell your friends and family to get one. It's not a problem unless you want to make it a problem. Perhaps buy them yourself with some money on them and give them as Xmas gifts.

As for mossies and midgies. Anywhere there's water you'll get them. Yes, worse inside the island. The breeze at the back of my property which is on wetland does keep them at bay However, go into my front garden I'm eaten alive. Live on the canals on the Gold Coast you will be very bothered by them. Live in Brisbane along any of the creeks or iver and you'll get them. Have a friend living in an upmarket suburb backing on parkland with a creek and she's just bought a mosquito holder at the island health shop. She spent up big on the island on her first visit at the health shop which she loves, the case at Emerald Isle, she even went berserk at the pharmacy because being Xmas coming up they had her favourite skin product at a great price. The pharmacy on Macleay is as good as any on the mainland.
I've recently been desperately sick enough to go the doctor next to said pharmacy and was surprised that the Indian doctor I saw was quite thorough. My GP is just across at Redland Bay shopping village. This doc was happy to make sure my GP received a copy of my X-ray results. I'd be more than happy to see him again. I'd change doctors except that I spend a lot of time on the mainland and just don't want to change again. Redland Bay Surgery is close enough. 18 min enjoyable ferry ride and a couple of minutes on the bus.
Translink have a bus station at the marina. The services take you to the City, Loganholme, Garden City or Carindale Shopping centres as well as to the train station and shops, Centrelink, X-ray centres and specialists at Cleveland. There's a bus to the Mater Private and Redlands hospitals and specialist centres. If you want to go to the business hub at Capalaba then the buses go there. There's two shopping centres in Capalaba.
oria Point is only 12-15 minutes on the bus - free if you've come from the ferry. There is good grocery shopping and lovely restaurants on a lake setting and a cinema whuch would have to be the cheapest in South-east Qld.
So, there are ways to get around if you choose not to have another vehicle on the mainland.
Should you choose to have a car on the mainland rather than the island you can use the SMBI bus which, if you buy their form of a Gocard only $5 to anywhere on the island or $6 with no card. However, should you have friends come to visit them the taxi may work out cheaper as the SMBI service charges per person because it's a little bus not a taxi although it's still a pick-up service. Unfortunately the taxis aren't the best but a necessary evil in circumstances outlined above.
The cost of land and homes far outweighs the costs of living. Rates are half of what it cost me on the Gold Coast. That would well and truly cover the cost of running two cars. Yes, parking on the mainland can be very stressful, however, if I do t get one I park a lot further away and catch a bus. Problem solved. It would probably be just as safe, if not safer, parked in a street in Redland Bay near a bus stop.
As a former Court Reporter having worked and lived in a very fast-paced environment I loved it on Macleay at first but then hated it. I missed Surfers and the closeness of amenities and loved the tram, but persevered and am now very settled and happy but it has taken me 18 months to fully appreciate my surroundings. I go back to Cavill Avenue often to look after a former neighbour's cat. So that's my free holiday without the cost of living in high rise and crippling rates. There are lots of house sits available around the Gold Coast. House sitting is what I do whenever I want time on the mainland.
Life is what you make it. Discard the negatives. You don't have to have anything to do with ferals that one reads about. It's just rubbish and should be treated with total disregard. I feel very safe living on my own. As a former Court Reporter I can assure you crime is far less than on the mainland, and in fact Gold Coast would beat Macleay hands down. Logan is a crime hot-spot as is Caboolture, and more to the point, affluent suburbs are the targets not the Bay Islands. So heed not any adverse comments re the crime situation. I've certainly observed police presence on Macleay.

So, do come and try before you buy but you will love it. There are slums but there are also beautiful upmarket homes on Macleay. You just need to familiarise yourself as to where those enclaves are.

Cheers
Josie