Australia - Councils reveal fluoride legal costs

Darren Coyne

Ballina Shire Council and Rous Water spent almost half a million dollars defending the decision to fluoridate local water supplies.

In a report to Ballina council recently, councillors were told $170,000 had been spent defending a challenge from environmental activist Al Oshlack.
It’s understood Mr Oshlack has agreed to repay $30,000.
Meanwhile, Rous Water general manager Kyme Lavelle told Echonetdaily that it was “fair to say our costs were higher than that”.
‘Our costs in the NSW Land and Environment Court were in excess of $220,000 and we are negotiating with Mr Oshlack for recovery of monies,’ he said.
Rous Water recently awarded a contract worth almost $3 million to Aquatech Maxcon Pty Ltd for the construction of four dosing plants......