Latest news with #CovidImpact
News.com.au
6 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Vanishing kids: unexpected crisis hits key Sydney suburbs
Spiralling housing costs and the rampant construction of high-rise buildings dominated by one-bedroom units has turned parts of Sydney into children's deserts where kids are increasingly rare. Analysis of PropTrack and ABS data showed multiple suburbs where less than a tenth of residents were aged under 20, with kids under nine accounting for as little as 2 per cent of locals, in some instances. There were also multiple areas where the children population was close to half what it was at the start of the 2000s despite an increase in the population overall. This was a much faster decline than the drop in overall Aussie fertility rates over the period. Experts said a housing affordability crisis – especially during Covid – was behind the diminishing numbers of kids in some areas, with parents increasingly moving their families to cheaper suburbs. 'A key reason our birthrate is declining is because of poor housing affordability,' said demographer Mark McCrindle. 'That's especially pronounced in the more expensive parts of Sydney. 'An ageing population has been a long-term trend but it really got accelerated during Covid because of the tremendous home price rises pushing a lot more younger people out of many areas. Families are also having less kids.' He added that this was changing the fabric of Sydney. 'We will reach a point where the median age of residents in some areas will be very high and these areas will lack diversity of age.' Sydney as a whole was already ageing faster than the rest of the country and a continued exodus of families with young kids would exacerbate coming challenges, Mr McCrindle said. 'It means supporting an ageing population in Sydney will become an even bigger burden on the next generations,' Mr McCrindle said. ABS data showed most of the suburbs underdoing a juvenile drought had property prices hundreds of thousands of dollars above the city average, while rents were among the highest in the country. They included Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay, where less than 5 per cent of residents were under 20. The proportion in nearby Rushcutters Bay and Darlinghurst was close to 6 per cent. Low numbers of children and teens – making up less than 10 per cent of residents – were also observed in Waterloo, Wolli Creek, Surry Hills, Redfern and Kirribilli. But there were also emerging children deserts in areas that had historically been dominated by families. North Shore suburb St Leonards had a particularly notable shift. About 27 per cent of the St Leonards population were under the age of 15 in 2001, but by 2021 they made up just 11 per cent. There was a similar trend in inner west suburb Newtown: 20.5 per cent of residents were under 15 in 2001 but by the 2021 census this age group accounted for only 9.1 per cent of locals. Rising prices in once family dominated regions like the outer inner west, north shore and northern beaches had often coincided with increased high-rise construction. This led to the rapid transformation of local housing as detached houses were knocked down to make way for small units. Heavily developed Homebush was a case in point: those aged below 15 accounted for a fifth of residents in 2001 but following rapid unit construction this figure declined to 15 per cent. It was a similar story in Burwood, Rhodes, Zetland and Mascot. Ray White Northern Beaches agent Eddy Piddington said couples had always moved to further flung suburbs once they had children but the trend had accelerated in recent years. 'There's been a definite change at the higher end of the market,' Mr Piddington said. 'We have high-end buyers you only used to see in eastern Harbour suburbs before. They will call and say 'I want to spend $12m. What do you have?' That didn't happen before. 'It's become a lot harder for families to upgrade from a unit to a house in the same area, but it does depend on the family. Some value location above the property so they will stay, but for those who want a larger house they can afford, they usually have to move.' Fairlight resident Tom Norris is selling the Sydney Rd unit he and his partner bought prior to having their two kids. They're hoping to upsize to a larger house and said they will have to look further out. 'There are a lot of families in this area. You see kids all around the houses … but I know a lot of people who are in the same position. They're moving because they need more space and they can't afford a house unless they go further away.' The Sydney areas where kids were most abundant tended to be low-rise suburbs – often new estates in outer areas. The supply of freestanding houses in these areas was usually growing and home prices were lower than average. Suburbs where those aged below 20 made up more than 30 per cent of residents were Ropes Crossing, The Ponds, The Gables, Oran Park, Jordan Springs and Marsden Park. Most of these outer suburbs had houses about $300,000-$400,000 cheaper than the Greater Sydney median price and had a high supply of recently built housing. Mr Norris said he would miss aspects of the Fairlight lifestyle. 'We love the unit,' he said. 'We bought it just at the start of Covid and it really stood out. It's more like a townhouse or semi but it's time to move on.'
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Government made losses of £5m running Fort Regent since 2020
The Government of Jersey made a loss of £5m running Fort Regent over the past five years, a Freedom of Information request has officials said the losses in running the 19th Century fort and leisure centre on Mont de la Ville in St Helier occurred between 2020 and 2025 and were compounded by the Covid was a period of closures at the fort during the pandemic during which staff were kept on full are currently plans to close the centre for a £110m redevelopment. 'Discounted memberships' Staff costs during the pandemic came to £1.2m per year while income dropped due to discounted memberships and said the site reopened in 2022 with income rising to more than £ costs also fell to £702,503 because the opening hours 2023 income dropped to £379,058 because gym and fitness services moved to Springfield but the centre still cost the government almost £900,000 in running 2025 the centre is expected to cost more than £600,000.
The Guardian
19-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
One in four pupils in England ‘disengage' when they move to secondary, report finds
One in four pupils in England 'disengage' when they move up to secondary school, with enjoyment, trust and a sense of feeling safe declining sharply, according to a new report. After a largely positive experience at primary school where children report high levels of enjoyment, there is a 'steep and lasting' drop in engagement after year 7 when pupils transfer to secondary at the age of 11, the survey of 100,000 pupils in England reveals. Girls are more likely to complain of feeling unsafe or worried, while pupils eligible for free school meals are more likely to report lower levels of trust, enjoyment and belonging – a gap which grows throughout secondary school. The study, published on Tuesday, says lower levels of engagement are linked to absenteeism – a key concern for government after Covid – with the top 25% most engaged secondary pupils 10 percentage points less likely to be persistently absent than those in the bottom 25%. It also finds that primary school pupils are more likely to have a greater sense of agency and believe hard work at school will lead to success compared with secondary pupils, scoring 8.4 out of 10 compared with 6.8 for older students. The research tracked how pupil engagement changed across the 2024–25 academic year and found pupils' average school enjoyment score drops from about 6.0 in year 6 to 3.8 in year 7, which then falls further to 3.2 in year 8. A sense of feeling safe falls from 7.2 in year 7 to 5.9 in year 9 among female pupils, compared with a decline from 7.4 to 6.6 for male pupils. Almost every country with available data sees a decline in engagement as children advance through school, but the report says it is more pronounced in England, 'suggesting that disengagement is not just a symptom of age, but something atypical happening in our context'. The findings come from the Research Commission on Engagement and Lead Indicators (RCELI), led by the ImpactEd group in partnership with the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), and other education organisations. The commission chair, Sue John, said: 'It is crucial that we identify the points at which pupils are starting to disengage with school, so that we can intervene to stop a disconnection leading to non-attendance and poorer outcomes. 'This research provides rich and nuanced insights into pupil engagement at a school and classroom level, which will enable leaders to act fast and understand more complex dynamics in their schools, such as what is happening at age 11 for different pupil groups.' Margaret Mulholland, Special educational needs and disabilities (Send) and inclusion specialist at the ASCL, said: 'The transition between primary and secondary school is a hugely important stage of a child's education. 'It can also be an unsettling time where issues with anxiety and behaviour can arise. As this study shows, a drop in engagement during this period can be hugely detrimental to a pupil's wellbeing and attainment.' Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the CST, added: 'There are many factors beyond schools which may be contributing to this picture. We need to delve deeper into what the factors are that are driving this disengagement and how we might reconnect these pupils with schooling.'
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
$1m-plus price surge: What your home could be worth in 2030
Two of Hobart's more affordable suburbs are projected to be among the city's leaders in home value growth. And they won't be alone with a large group set to reach a $1m price by 2030. research arm has calculated what the median house price will be across 37 greater Hobart suburbs. This was based on areas with at least 30 annual sales. It is not a forecast, rather a projection of what prices could be if growth in the next five years follows that of the last five years. Dodges Ferry and Rokeby recorded the largest five-year growth change, increasing by 84 and 85 per cent. Projected forwards, this would see Dodges Ferry move from $685,000 for a typical house to $1.268m. And Rokeby would shift from $630,000 to $1.157m. Of the analysed areas, only Sandy Bay has a 2025 median value higher than $1m. If the five-year growth projection came to fruition, this figure would balloon to 17 suburbs. Southern Beaches expert, Donna Wooley from Homelands Property, said that while 85 per cent growth is a large increase, it was also 'not at all surprising'. Ms Wooley said Dodges Ferry was growing from a low base, coupled with a clear lifestyle appeal. 'Lifestyle has played a massive part in the incredible growth we have experienced, especially in the wake of Covid and lockdowns and working from home,' she said. 'Every morning there are swimmers and surfers at the beach getting their saltwater fix before heading off to work. 'A combination of flexible work opportunities and the infrastructure works at the Sorell bypass and the upgrade at Midway Point and the Hobart Airport makes the commute to the city less than 40 minutes. 'Dodges Ferry and the Southern Beaches as a whole is a great place to live.' Ms Wooley said a range of factors contribute to home value growth or a slowdown in any market. In her patch, the current market has corrected itself following the 'frenzy of late 2020 and 2021'. 'At that time, my average time on the market was just six days, and properties were selling for up to 30 per cent above the asking price,' she said. 'We have seen 10 years' worth of growth in the last five years — when the cash rate was at an all-time low and mainland investors were buying sight unseen. 'I would be amazed if we saw that again moving forward. 'However, I can understand the desire to live by the beach.' Meanwhile, comparing capital cities over the same timeframe, Hobart would become more expensive than Melbourne by 2030, with Hobart reaching $1.011m and its sister city pushing up to $1.001m. Executive manager of economics at REA Group, Angus Moore, said that home values over the past five years had been 'strong'. 'We are expecting that we're going to see home prices grow this year … and the reason for that is that we expect to see interest rates falling,' he said. 'That's going to boost borrowing capacities. 'However, we're certainly not expecting to see anything like the pace of growth that we saw in 2021 when prices grew incredibly quickly. 'Broadly, for this year, we're expecting to see low to mid-single digit growth in home prices. 'We expect some of the smaller markets to do a little bit better.'
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Repairs to Edinburgh's historic North Bridge delayed again to 2026
An over budget project to refurbish a historic bridge in Edinburgh is facing a fresh delay. Work on the Category A-listed North Bridge began in 2018 to help safeguard its long-term was estimated the project would cost £22m but it is now thought the bill for the overhaul will be at least £85m after years of City Council last year said work would be completed by November 2025 but has now pushed this back to spring 2026. Contractors found the bridge in a much worse condition than expected when work began to repair or replace its 6,300 steel impact of the Covid pandemic and ensuring the bridge is capable of taking any future tram lines in the city have also been blamed for the delays and cost overruns. The North Bridge was built in 1897 - by the same firm which built the Forth Bridge - - as a city centre link between the Old and New last major refurbishment was in 1933 and some areas of the structure have not been accessed since the bridge had been completed. In November last year, the City of Edinburgh Council told BBC Scotland that a total of £72.5m had been spent on the project to date with the estimated final cost expected to be £ council also said that it was expected to be finished by November this year. Now it is expected the work will be substantially completed by spring next year and fully finished by the summer. Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, the council's transport convener, said: "When we installed scaffolding to gain access to areas not worked on for 125 years it became clear very quickly that more repairs would be required than initially anticipated. "This has impacted on the length and the cost of the project as well as other factors such as the Covid pandemic and cost of rising inflation."We know that these works have taken longer than we had initially anticipated, and are grateful to the local business community, residents and commuters for their patience."
