We’re not having enough children

Source: Wangaratta Chronicle 11.08.08 ... archived 11.0808

City birth rate region’s lowest: higher cost of living is having impact

Written by HARVEY DIKE.

INCREASING costs of living are having an impact on the shape and make of local families, with the Rural City of Wangaratta recording the lowest birth rate in the North East region.

According to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Wangaratta women have an average of 1.95 babies each, behind all other municipalities in the region.

Indigo Shire has the highest fertility rate, at 2.09.

However, the Wangaratta figure is around average when considering Victoria as a whole, and generally higher than many of its metropolitan counterparts - the City of Melbourne recorded the lowest rate in the state at 0.87.

A Productivity Commission report has indicated rent and mortgage costs, and day-to-day expenses is largely impacting on a couple’s decision to start a family - something that has been of some consideration for Wangaratta’s Meggs family.

The Meggs may be above the average, though somewhat unexpectedly - Cameron and his wife Kristie had always planned on having three children, but were a little surprised regardless by the arrival of their twins, Georgia and Ellie, five months ago.

"We had only planned on having two at the moment, but the second and third came together," laughed Mr Meggs.

The twins’ arrival has added some extra strain financially - particularly when considering costs of nappies and baby formula, which need to be bought in double.

"Then there’s petrol, going to mother’s group, or going to the doctor’s," Mr Meggs said.

"We also had to buy a wagon (upgrading from a small car) just to be able to fit all the car seats in."

The commission’s report also indicates the average Australian fertility rate is still below the population replacement rate of 2.1 - something which may raise alarm bells for those concerned about Wangaratta’s ageing population.

However, from a local perspective, Mr Meggs believes the population appears fairly balanced - after all, Northeast Health Wangaratta recorded 575 births last year.

"I know a lot of older people are coming into the town to retire, but there’s still a heck of a lot of babies being born," he said.

"I would be surprised to hear that the rates (between the two generations) are very different."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Editorial Comment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That certainly isn't the case in the King Valley - five years ago, maybe! But today, there are littlies everywhere you look with the typical baby making family with at least three kids