Cook Shire Council votes to ditch fluoride in its water supply

A southern Cape York council will stop fluoridating its largest town’s water supply with councillors narrowly voting in favour of removing the mineral at a fiery meeting.

Dr Natasha Coventry and Dr Desmond Hill present a deputation on the benefits of fluoridated water to Cook Shire councillors in Cooktown on Tuesday morning.

A southern Cape York council will stop fluoridating its largest town’s water supply with councillors narrowly voting in favour of removing the mineral at a fiery meeting on Tuesday.

But a councillor has warned the vote will lead to worse health outcomes across regional Queensland with just 24 of the state’s 77 councils now fluoridating their water.

More than three-dozen Cook Shire ratepayers attended the meeting with advocates for and against treating Cooktown’s water with the naturally-occurring compound delivering 15-minute deputations to councillors.

Cook Shire Ratepayers’ Association’s Lee Stapleton argued that fluoridated water wasn’t even safe to drink while Dr Natasha Coventry said its removal would “lead to harm and poorer health in our community”.

“Even with the best dental hygiene, routine flossing and avoidance of sugary drinks, water fluoridation reduces decay,” Dr Coventry said.

Cook Shire Council has voted on whether to keep fluoride in its Cooktown water supply at an ordinary meeting. The Annan water treatment plant provides water to more than 980 households and businesses in the shire.

“But the benefits increase for those who don’t, or can’t maintain good dental hygiene.

“It benefits all people at every stage of life and healthy teeth help our health overall.

“There is no other way to provide fluoridation on a population level at the same cost and safety benefits.”

Oral health outcomes had improved since Cooktown started using fluoride in 2008.

“We know that in our own backyard there is much less dental disease in communities that have fluoride,” she said.

“A vote against fluoride would be going against decades of evidence in Australia.

“Fluoride is not a medication. In fact, it occurs naturally in most foods and virtually all water supplies. It makes teeth stronger … and even reverses early decay.

“If there was evidence of harm (caused by fluoride) … I would campaign against it.”

Mayor Robyn Holmes said her vote had been guided by information provided by the Australian Dental Association, Queensland Health and other peak bodies.

“I did not seek the opinion of every one of the 985 households and businesses connected to Cooktown’s town water,” Ms Holmes said.

“As a councillor, there are times when decisions are made that are not informed by popular opinion and this is certainly one of them.

Around 40 Cook Shire ratepayers attended Tuesday's ordinary council meeting.

“I cannot see overwhelming evidence that 0.7 parts-per-million of fluoride (in Cooktown’s water) is unsafe.”

Ms Holmes said that while she cast her vote willingly, she believed that public health decisions should ultimately be made by the state government.

But other disagreed, with councillor Gavin Dear expressing concern about the ingestion of fluoride and its impact on bone health.

“It’s not something our metabolism has any use for,” Mr Dear said.

“If we’re not sure and there’s potential for damage, let’s have a think about it.”

Councillors Ross Logan and Melinda Parker sided with Mr Dear, while Sarah Martin and Justin Coventry backed the mayor.

It wasn’t until 90 minutes into the meeting that deputy mayor Marilyn Morris broke the deadlock, delivering an argument against the science that supports fluoride’s benefits.

“There’s no right or wrong answer but a decision has to be made,” Ms Morris said.

“While I do have personal views on this, for me the decision is representative of the majority view of my constituents.

Cook Shire councillors Melinda Parker, Gavin Dear, Ross Logan and Marilyn Morris vote against keeping fluoride in Cooktown's water supply.

“From my surveys, the majority view was that people were against having fluoride in the water.

“We must step beyond science to acknowledge its limitations.

“In doing this, we avoid the pitfalls of trusting science and ending up with unforeseen effects on the complex genetic structure of the human body.”

The decision could potentially lead other councils to follow suit, Dr Coventry said.

“I look at disadvantaged people in our community and our lower socio-economic population and fluoride has known benefits,” she said.

Councillors said they had attended presentations, conducted surveys, read medical journals, engaged community members and reviewed domestic and international water fluoridation policies prior to the meeting.

Fluoridation of the Cooktown water supply cost Cook Shire ratepayers $18,000 per year.

More than 150 major health organisations worldwide including the World Health Organisation, the Australian Medical Association, and the Australian Dental Association support water fluoridation.

HOW THEY VOTED

Cook Shire councillors’ votes to keep fluoride in Cooktown’s water supply

Justin Coventry – For

Ross Logan – Against

Gavin Dear – Against

Marilyn Morris – Against

Sarah Martin – For

Robyn Holmes – For

Melinda Parker – Against

Originally published as Cook Shire Council votes to ditch fluoride in its water supply