Casey goes boom

By Kelly Yates
CASEY is continuing to experience a baby boom, with Casey Hospital expecting more than 1400 births this year.
Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released last week show 71,175 babies were born in the state – the highest number since 1972.
Casey topped the list of last year’s baby boom with 3864 births, with Casey Hospital doing 1347 of those.
A Southern Health spokeswoman said March and September were the busiest months for births during the year at the Kangan Drive hospital, with staff booking 125 women each month.
The City of Casey has the largest population of zero to four-year-olds in Victoria.
Mark and Margaret Waring from Hampton Park welcomed baby Marina into the world on 11 November.
Mr Waring told the News his wife was in labour for three hours at Casey Hospital before giving birth to their daughter at 9pm.
This is the couple’s first baby, with Mr Waring saying they were hoping to have two or three more.
“The City of Casey is a good place to bring up children,” he said.
“It’s convenient and we like the surroundings. All our friends and relatives are here as well.”
State Treasurer John Lenders said last year the Brumby Government had delivered a baby boom budget to roll out the best services and facilities for the increasing number of new-born Victorians.
“We have planned for the future and last year invested $179 million in a baby boom budget to make sure this almost unprecedented number of baby Victorians had the best start in life,” he said.
“There is no doubt that Melbourne is a popular place to raise a family with an attractive lifestyle, a resilient economy and the cheapest housing on the eastern seaboard.”