Noosa Council votes to keep fluoride in region’s water supply

A Queensland council has shut down calls for fluoride to be removed from the region’s drinking water, after anti-fluoride petitioners met with councillors last month.

Noosa Council rejects calls for drinking water to undergo de-fluoridation. Photo Graham Broadhead.

The Noosa Council has shut down calls for fluoride to be removed from the region’s drinking water, after anti-fluoride petitioners met with councillors last month.

At the council’s ordinary meeting on Thursday morning, mayor Frank Wilkie stated the high costs of de-fluoridation and the strong scientific evidence proving the benefits of fluoridated drinking water had affected the council’s decision.

During the mayoral minute, Mr Wilkie emphasised the $20m bill that would burden ratepayers due to the complexity of the region’s water system.

Any move to defluoridate would also threaten Noosa’s water security during future droughts.

“There is reliable evidence that community water fluoridation at current Australian levels is not associated with cancer, Down syndrome, cognitive dysfunction, lowered intelligence or hip fracture or other human health conditions and existing bodies of evidence consistently shows that water fluoridation reduces tooth decay,” Mr Wilkie said.

Noosa Council Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie is now going for the top job. Picture: Supplied

Councillors Amelia Lorentson, Tom Wegener, Karen Finzel, Brian Stockwell, Jessica Phillips and Nicola Wilson all voted in support of what Mr Wilkie called a motion during the meeting.

None of the councillors requested to speak to Mr Wilkie’s motion.

A council spokesman said although the vote was not planned, it showed the councillors’ support of the mayor’s stance.

The motion was brought to council following a private meeting with members of the Noosa community who oppose fluoride along with health experts last month.

This publication contacted individual councillors over their personal views on fluoride, with none commenting to date.

Originally published as Noosa Council votes to keep fluoride in region’s water supply