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I agree with Chris, if astrophotography is your main purpose, I'd like at getting an ED80 on top of a EQ6. Tidalphase (forum member) went down this path recently (using a 350D DSLR) and is producing great images after only a short time.
Also, your budget for a CCD is way under what you'll need for decent images. For that price, you'll get a Meade DSI or DSI Pro, and some people are doing good stuff with them, but they take a while to master by the looks of it.
If you've got a DSLR, that's a great starting option once you buy the adapters to mount it to your scope. If you don't own one, it's still a good option but it will set you back $1000-$2000 depending on what lenses you get with it etc.
I guess you really need to consider aperture vs astrophotography. Large aperture for astrophotography requires a very solid mount (at least an EQ6) and accuracy is even more important at the longer focal lengths. The ED80 gives you nice widefields and is a good entry level into astrophotography.
Light polluted Sydney will be a problem, but filters can overcome some of that. But you should also be prepared to travel with your scope to some dark skies every so often to take advantage of them! We have some viewing nights at Kulnura on the Central Coast (only an hour or so north of you), and it's well worth the trip to meet up with some like-minded guys, and several of the regulars will be able to give you some good advice on-site.. One has a Losmany G11 mount, with a Celestron C11 on top and a SkyWatcher 80mm on top of that. It's a magnicifent looking setup.
Hope i've helped.
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