Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie addresses fluoride debate

A Queensland mayor has warned ratepayers the removal of fluoride from drinking water could cost more than $20m, while adding the “weight of advice” from health experts was a key factor in the council’s decision.

The Noosa Council will address the water fluoride debate at the ordinary meeting in January. (Photo by Alastair Pike / AFP)

A Queensland mayor has warned ratepayers the removal of fluoride from drinking water could cost more than $20m, while adding the “weight of advice” from health experts was a key factor in the council’s decision.

Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie is expected to present the council’s stance on the defluoridation of the region’s drinking water in his mayoral minute at the council’s ordinary meeting on Thursday.

Mr Wilkie’s latest comments come after the Noosa Council held a private workshop with members of the community in December, discussing both sides of the controversial debate to inform councillors.

Noosa residents, along with those in Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast, currently share fluoridated drinking water through the SEQ water network.

Thursday’s meeting agenda outlines the council’s plan to keep the current system in place, stating the process of removing fluoride from Noosa’s water supply would cost more than $20m.

Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie ha stated the council will not be making changes to the region’s water supply. Picture: Iwan Jones

Mr Wilkie said the removal of fluoride would also be a “complex process” that could threaten Noosa’s water security during future droughts.

“While the interconnected nature of the SEQ water grid ensures water security and supply to the community, it would make the implementation of a decision to cease fluoridation of Noosa’s water supply an extremely complex process,” Mr Wilkie said.

“Noosa’s water supply is also fluoridated prior to arrival in Noosa through the Northern Pipeline Interconnector (NPI).

“Cessation of fluoride would require alterations to the existing connections with Seqwater and the Unitywater distribution system to cease dosing at Noosa, removing fluoride flowing north to Noosa and fluoridating water heading the south and adding connection points.”

Mr Wilkie also referred to the scientific evidence that has debunked a number of claims made about fluoride.

“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.

All Noosa councillors were contacted by this publication for comment, but none provided any personal viewpoints on the issue.

Originally published as Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie addresses fluoride debate