Fluoridation in state of decay

THE removal of fluoride from drinking water is creeping southeast, as another Queensland council chooses to pull the chemical from supplies.

Fraser Coast Regional Council has become the latest local government to drop fluoridation - joining Cairns, Bundaberg, Tablelands, Burdekin and Doomadgee - to the alarm of health and dental professionals.

Debate has been raging since late last year when the Newman Government handed councils the power to opt in or out of fluoridation, after its addition to local water supplies was mandated by the former government.

Under the reforms, councils are responsible for meeting all costs associated with any decision.

Shortly after the announcement, large southeast Queensland councils locked in to the SEQ Water Grid, such as Brisbane and Ipswich, confirmed fluoride would stay.

Others such as Moreton Bay, Redland and the Gold Coast are yet to reach a decision.

Gold Coast City Council water committee boss Cr Paul Taylor said results of a survey gauging public support for fluoridation were still being collected, and cost estimates for removal were about $100 million if the council were to take the step on its own. He said the issue would ultimately go to a council vote, although so far a majority of respondents appeared in favour of keeping fluoride.

Redland Mayor Karen Williams said her council was also yet to reach a decision.

She added the cost of removing fluoride had been estimated at $50 million, and a decision would have to be made after discussions with Logan and Gold Coast councils, which were also formerly serviced by now-wound-up supplier Allconnex.

Cr Williams also hit out at the move to place the decision and costs in southeast Queensland councils' hands, when it was the State Government that ran the water grid.

Meanwhile, Toowoomba will keep fluoride after the council voted in favour by a margin of one.

Australian Dental Association Queensland president Andrew Wong said some councils' decision to drop fluoride was concerning, and urged those still considering their position to maintain supplies.

"Water fluoridation has been proven to be a safe and effective means of reducing dental decay across the population," Dr Wong said.

"We would strongly urge councils that are fluoridating to continue to do so, and those that aren't to begin doing so."

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