Port Macquarie Council Agrees to Fluoride Poll

MEDIA RELEASE 25/01/2012
Council says YES to a new community poll on water fluoridation
THE community could have a chance to have their say on the controversial issue of water fluoridation at the local government elections in September.
Local members of the Fluoride Action Network Australia are delighted that Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has responded positively to a request for a community poll on the issue.
Caree Alexander, retired dentist and local spokesperson for the group, said council had advised that a poll would be held if more than 1000 local residents petitioned council no later than three months prior to the election.
“This is a big step forward from council,” Dr Alexander said,
“In 1991, a community poll was held in association with local government elections, returning a vote of over 70% against water fluoridation.
“Not since 1991 have we had a council willing to listen to the community on the controversial issue of water fluoridation.
“Since 1990, the evidence of adverse health effects from fluoride consumption has been mounting,” she said.
In 2004, NSW State Health approached council to hand over the decision to fluoridate, and by a vote of 6-3 the councillors agreed.
Council has since built a fluoridation facility at the Rosewood Road Reservoir, substantially funded by the NSW Government.
Dr Alexander said the decision to hand the matter to the NSW Government was undemocratic, and the present NSW Government appears to support the democratic approach.
“In a letter dated December 15, 2011, Leslie Williams Member for Port Macquarie, wrote to me stating that 'Fluoridation has always been a matter for local government to decide, taking into account the wishes of their ratepayers’”, Dr Alexander said.
“Clearly our current administrator, Neil Porter, agrees with this democratic approach.
“Local members of the Fluoride Action Network are now circulating a petition calling for a poll in September, and we are confident local residents will support the call for a community decision on whether a silicofluoride compound (H2SiF6) should be added to local water supplies,”she said.
The petition must be submitted to council no later than three months prior to the Council elections on September 8.
For further information and petition forms, Tel: 65812411, E: gwarehouse@bigpond.com
Petitions can also be downloaded at www.gwarehouse.com.au