Australia - FLUORIDATION is back on the agenda in Warrnambool
Fluoride water on agenda
MADELINE HEALEY
October 13, 2006
FLUORIDATION is back on the agenda in Warrnambool with the city council's new health plan advocating its introduction.
The plan, adopted this week, calls for the council to advocate and support State Government efforts to encourage water authorities to introduce fluoridation. Evidence of progress towards the introduction of fluoridated water is listed as a key performance indicator for dental health.
The often-contentious fluoridation issue prompted discussion at this week's council meeting.
Councillor Andrew Fawcett raised the issue, asking why Warrnambool doesn't have fluoridated water when it's a Government requirement.
The council's chief executive officer, Lindsay Merritt, said Warrnambool's dental health was much worse than other areas of the state.
He said fluoridated water had been introduced in Melbourne ``a generation ago''.
``It was never mandated in country Victoria, it's been a patchwork quilt across country Victoria,'' he said.
``Council received a deputation not that long ago from the Department of Human Services relating to the introduction of fluoride.''
The council discussed referring the matter to Wannon Water but acknowledged that it would probably be passed on to the State Government.
Yesterday, Wannon Water chief executive officer Grant Green said fluoridation was a government issue.
Mr Green said he was not aware of any plans to introduce fluoride to Warrnambool's supply.
Mayor Glenys Phillpot said the issue had been passed around between authorities the whole time she was in council, but there had been progress. ``I think we're closer now than we were 40 years ago,'' she said.
A State Government spokesman, Ben Hart, said the Government would be guided by the prevailing local opinion. ``We will listen to communities and if communities want to put it in they can,'' he said. One person decidedly against fluoridation is former mayor Frank McCarthy, who described it as a cumulative poison. He accused the council of being old-fashioned for advocating fluoridated water.
``It was a big hit 20 years ago, like square-dancing,'' Mr McCarthy said. ``I don't know how they're thinking. You drive around Warrnambool and anyone can see big five-tonne trucks loaded with bottled water.
``That's not fluoridated. The game's over, fluoride is a thing of the past now, move on, don't waste people's money.'' He said the only way he would support it was if there was a public vote and the majority of people supported fluoride. ``I can't see any other fair way to do it . . . give them the vote.''
MADELINE HEALEY
October 13, 2006
FLUORIDATION is back on the agenda in Warrnambool with the city council's new health plan advocating its introduction.
The plan, adopted this week, calls for the council to advocate and support State Government efforts to encourage water authorities to introduce fluoridation. Evidence of progress towards the introduction of fluoridated water is listed as a key performance indicator for dental health.
The often-contentious fluoridation issue prompted discussion at this week's council meeting.
Councillor Andrew Fawcett raised the issue, asking why Warrnambool doesn't have fluoridated water when it's a Government requirement.
The council's chief executive officer, Lindsay Merritt, said Warrnambool's dental health was much worse than other areas of the state.
He said fluoridated water had been introduced in Melbourne ``a generation ago''.
``It was never mandated in country Victoria, it's been a patchwork quilt across country Victoria,'' he said.
``Council received a deputation not that long ago from the Department of Human Services relating to the introduction of fluoride.''
The council discussed referring the matter to Wannon Water but acknowledged that it would probably be passed on to the State Government.
Yesterday, Wannon Water chief executive officer Grant Green said fluoridation was a government issue.
Mr Green said he was not aware of any plans to introduce fluoride to Warrnambool's supply.
Mayor Glenys Phillpot said the issue had been passed around between authorities the whole time she was in council, but there had been progress. ``I think we're closer now than we were 40 years ago,'' she said.
A State Government spokesman, Ben Hart, said the Government would be guided by the prevailing local opinion. ``We will listen to communities and if communities want to put it in they can,'' he said. One person decidedly against fluoridation is former mayor Frank McCarthy, who described it as a cumulative poison. He accused the council of being old-fashioned for advocating fluoridated water.
``It was a big hit 20 years ago, like square-dancing,'' Mr McCarthy said. ``I don't know how they're thinking. You drive around Warrnambool and anyone can see big five-tonne trucks loaded with bottled water.
``That's not fluoridated. The game's over, fluoride is a thing of the past now, move on, don't waste people's money.'' He said the only way he would support it was if there was a public vote and the majority of people supported fluoride. ``I can't see any other fair way to do it . . . give them the vote.''
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