Australia - Council pushes ahead with fluoridation

NOT SO FAST: Ilga Sleja (right), of the Ballina Fluoridation-Free Network, with supporters Amanda Bryce and Christopher Bryce. The network is accusing Ballina Shire Council of failing to adequately consult with the community on fluoridation.

Council pushes ahead with fluoridation
Rebecca Lollback 20th June 2009
PLANS to fluoridate the Ballina Shire's water supply are on track, according to the council.
Civil services group manager, John Truman, said the council had 'made an arrangement with Rous Water to project manage the implementation of fluoride'.
“The main task currently being progressed is the concept design for the dosing plants,” he said. “The concept design is used as part of the approval process and also to assist in property acquisition.”
However, some residents are still angry about the council's decision to add fluoride to the water, saying the community was not consulted.
Ballina Fluoridation-Free Network campaigner, Ilga Sleja, said the council had 'put the cart before the horse'.
“Not only did they make their decision within two weeks, they then ignored a reasonable rescission motion,” she said.
“This is all happening far too quickly. The decision has been made on personal and subjective opinions.
“One of our biggest concerns is that minority groups are not being protected.
“Babies, in particular, are not meant to have any fluoride in their system until they are at least six years old.
“But if there is fluoride in our drinking water, it will be used to make up baby formula. We won't be able to avoid it.
“Globally and nationally there has been a paradigm shift away from fluoridation. A lot has changed in the past 60 years.
“But the Ballina Shire Council is just pushing ahead with it.
“They have failed to do adequate consultation. It has not been done.”
Mr Truman said tender documents for fluoridation of the water supply would be prepared once the design report was completed.
“The council expects that Rous Water will likely be in a position to call tenders for construction in about three months and the plants are expected to be completed around mid- 2010,” he said.A short history
• Ballina's decision to add fluoride to its water follows similar moves by Lismore City and Richmond Valley councils in 2006.
• Those decisions followed extensive community debate across the region.
• Ballina and Byron shire councils both voted against fluoridation after that debate.