Hi mummies, thanks for the feedback. The conclusion is 'NO' for Sunshine I guess, haha.
The decision now is to rent a place for ~6mths (maybe in the city or Boxhill), look ard and have a feel of each subhurb before deciding on which to buy and also apartment vs house (though my preference for now is a house as we have a dog and wd live a bigger place for the little one to run ard). We really should not rush into it.

The factors you listed are all impt to me, top on the list will be childcare and proximity to train station (just got to know that there are free parking at the train station). As my girl turns 2 by the time we are there in May 2010, maybe a good public school could be a deciding factor too (not too sure abt the school zone system in Mel).

Just spoke to a Mel real estate agent and they are promoting this place in Point Cook, seems like a really great place to live in... but the general feedback of the west side is it can be a bit rough and not as 'nice and safe' as the east. What's your view?

Once again, thanks for your advice