Australia - Fluoride debate resurfaces

Fluoride debate resurfaces
MARIE LOW
27 Jul, 2011 05:01 PM
SEVERAL Tenterfield Shire councillors have vowed to continue to fight fluoridation of the town’s water supply to the end, despite completion of a $67,000 fluoride dosing plant.
Tenterfield Shire Council was given a NSW Department of Health grant to purchase and install a fluoride dosing plant, but had to cover the estimated $4000 in staff training and will be responsible for ongoing costs of an estimated $15,000 a year.
Council general manager Jim Gossage said council was awaiting confirmation from the Department of Health that council could start fluoridation.
But Cr Lawrie West said he would continue to fight the introduction of fluoride.
“That is simply because 74 per cent of the people say they don’t want it,” Cr West said.
Cr West said he had been advised council would use sodium fluoride as an additive rather than the naturally occurring calcium fluoride.
“The thing I would like to point out is that it can’t be destroyed,” he said. “Unlike chlorine, fluoride doesn’t boil off.
“If you hose your garden with town water, the sodium fluoride water soaks into the garden. The water evaporates and the sodium fluoride is left on the plants you are eating.”
Cr Phil Yates said despite the money already spent on fluoridation, he would also continue to fight its introduction.
“Even if it has cost $100,000, I want to see this end,” he said. “I don’t want this sodium fluoride – it is poison – if they are going to do it, put in calcium fluoride.”
Cr Yates is seeking a notice of motion for council to debate introducing an exemption of fees and charges for residents who want to convert to tank water.
Council has said it is introducing fluoride under the recommendation of the NSW Department of Health, despite three past referendums that showed Tenterfield people did not want fluoride added to the water.
Mayor Toby Smith said he had asked the Department of Health to withdraw council’s referral to the department to make a decision after the 2005 referendum, but said he had been unsuccessful.
“It is in the hands of the Department of Health,” he said.
“I am sure the Department of Health will put in the same sort of stuff that is used in Sydney and all the other towns and cities throughout Australia.”