MOVING from Swindon to the Sunshine Coast in Australia was supposed to be a dream come true for the Wheatley family.

But fast forward three months and the dream is slowly becoming a nightmare after the worst floods in decades have ravaged the family’s new neighbourhood.

Shaun, 44, wife Esme, 42, daughters Alexandra, 11 and nine-year-old Freya and Bramble the dog, emigrated to Mooloolaba, Queensland, in October last year and have spoken of the horror they now face.

Speaking yesterday Esme said: “ It has been an awful night with a large proportion of Brisbane disappearing under water and, with it, many beautiful areas and landmarks. It is so sad.

“There are many risks and so most of the city has been evacuated.

“Quite a few houses here have solar power for their electricity and, although the electricity company has cut off the power to many houses, those who have solar power could still be live and are posing quite a threat to people who enter the water and go into these properties.

“People are bulk buying here, especially bread and milk also flour, eggs and butter, I suppose if you can’t buy it made, you have to do it yourself.

“There have been some horrific incidents in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley with many stories circulating about terrible fates of the locals.

“Some they have recovered but as of yet there are still 90 people unaccounted for.”

The family sold their home in Taw Hill and headed to Down Under for a better life for their children.

They are now playing a waiting game to see how bad the damage will be when the flood waters subside.

Esme said: “Our next neighbourhood, Mountain Creek, has experienced flooding and suffered loss of power.

“Also, locally the tide took the Maroochy river up onto the road and flooded all the houses which line the road.

“Our nearest shopping centre, The Sunshine Plaza, has the Maroochy River running through it and there was a risk of the area being inundated yesterday and all cinema goers were alerted they may be evacuated at anytime.

“The main problems we are facing is all the floating debris in the rivers. Also the health risks of stagnant water such as dengue fever.”