Thread: considering move to Port Hedland... WA advice/opinions??

Only $60k p.a to live and work in the icehole of Australia!!! ASO4's in the public service are getting near enough that these days. Fitters and boilies at a mates engineeering works in Brisbane are grossing $85k without leaving the city. One of my rellies is driving road train water trucks on subdivision works at Karratha and earned $95k in his first
5 1/2 months mid-Jan. to 30th. June last year. He does put in the hours though, but is accommodated in single quarters and fed. He plans to retire in 3 years. Reckons he will have saved enough.

Brian
He did mention he was young and just starting out on his career.HUNGRY MACAS dont pay anywhere near 60 grand!!!!!
Andrew

I lived in South Hedland and hated every minute of it - couldn't wait to get out, believe the posts that call it the icehole of the world - it really is. It used to be depressing having to go back when you had the chance to get away from there - I would think long and hard before moving there - that's why there are so many jobs going there ...... Good luck in what ever you decide though.

Im considering a move to Karratha, I grew up in newman and miss the pilbara.

I catgorically WOULD NOT move to hedland for 60k p/a. You will go backwards in a big hurry.

Pt hedland isnt the icehole of the world (southern cross/bullfinch may well be....) but you sure can smell it from there.

There are a lot of race and drug related social problems in hedland.

Having said that family friends lived in cooker point for many many years and enjoyed it very much.

Most mining/resources town in wa are what you make of them.

Re the 15:1 male/female ratio...i hope your not the jealous type and please dont take as anything other than friendly advice but if your missus is a looker there will be a line of blokes with fist fuls of money and lots of nice toys lined up around the bloke waiting to take her off your hands.

cheers
Luke

hmm... lots of interesting reading here guys. Thanks for the replies.

Originally Posted by Craig E

I am sure a cute blonde will find lots of work. Maybe even Haul Packs at $100k plus a year

funny you should say that mate, she spent today in a simulator learning how to drive a hauler

Brian - I'm 24, and just finished a degree in the Creative Industries (basically like the arts). while tradies in Brisbane are doing alright (GF and friends are well taken care of), The art/event management industry here is so cut-throat that you can't even break in at $35K without years of experience, usually working for free just to build contacts. Great if Ma + Pa are forking out your living expenses in the overpadded nest, not so great for the rest of us.
So it sounds like South Hedland is a pretty rough 'burb eh? While I'd be working for Council, BHP would be forking out for the accom. Reckon they'd chuck me into the rough neck of the woods, knowing i'm an artsy type and all?

Lucus -
So you like the Pilbara, but wouldn't move to Hedland?

and when you say "go backwards" quickly, you mean financially?

Race & Drug issues are a part of my job territory, spent a large chunk of last year in Bundy on arts projects for Indig. and at risk youth. I know the north west is a lot worse though.

Am i correct in understanding there is a community management program underway in South Hedland that is supposedly getting some results these days?

As for the m/f ratio - no offence taken mate. I know she's a nicely cut out girl but thankfully she's also enough of a tomboy not to be swayed by blokes waving a fistful of dollars. I take their attempts as a reminder of how lucky i am

Everyone keeps saying that the money isn't great but......

Originally Posted by 45tr0

and there's accommodation included.

that is worth a lot.

Originally Posted by 45tr0

Brian - I'm 24, and just finished a degree in the Creative Industries (basically like the arts). while tradies in Brisbane are doing alright (GF and friends are well taken care of), The art/event management industry here is so cut-throat that you can't even break in at $35K without years of experience, usually working for free just to build contacts. Great if Ma + Pa are forking out your living expenses in the overpadded nest, not so great for the rest of us.

My daughter has a BA in Film and Television Production. She later took a
B. Business Management degree so she could make a living. The only full time permanent work in her chosen profession is with the ABC who were not hiring under the previous federal government. The Liberal alphabet begins with d. Most of her classmates are not working in the industry.

As long as accomodation is paid for then it will not be too bad. There is some really nice country up that way, but as said Port Hedland is a icehole of the world.
But it is a foot in the door for you and may open up opportunities. I would not consider living there long term.
Places like Esperance where we live are a better option, BHP mine 150kms away and an arts centre.
Cheers
CraigE