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UK Against Fluoridation

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Australia - Halt to Balranald fluoride


Halt to Balranald fluoride
SARAH O'CONNOR

"Some people have come here particularly because there isn't fluoride in the water"
BALRANALD Shire Council will halt the fluoridation of the town's water until community concerns are addressed.
The council agreed last week to hold off installing fluoride dosing equipment until New South Wales Health returns to Balranald for a community meeting.
It will also invite a "suitably qualified person" to the meeting to provide an opposing argument.
The move follows a community poll which showed 370 of the people surveyed were against fluoridating Balranald's water supplies, and only 44 supported it.
While council management has previously dismissed the poll as inaccurate, Councillor Steve O'Hailoran moved a motion at the council meeting last week to halt fluoridation. "People need to be properly informed," he said. "We don't know the implications (of fluoridation). "Some people have come here (to Balranald) particularly because there isn't fluoride in the water." One example of this is found in Don and Lynda Cooke, who moved from Riddells Creek, near Sunbury, to Balranald in January. Before purchasing land in the town, the couple enquired with locals to find out if Balranald's water was fluoridated. "It was another plus that it wasn't fluoridated," Mrs Cooke said. "I thought it was really great."
But shortly after beginning construction on their new home, Mrs Cooke said she received the poll about fluoride — in which she selected 'no'. "I was terribly disappointed," she said. "If they're going to do that we'll get tank water." Mrs Cooke said she had always been against fluoridating drinking water for both health and democracy reasons. "Why is it we're being forced to do something?" Mrs Cooke said.
"It should be your own choice," she said.
But a spokesperson for NSW Health's Greater Western Area Health Service said Balranald had a "high risk population" vulnerable to tooth decay. The spokesperson said it was recommended that all communities with a population over 1000 had their water fluoridated. "Water fluoridation is safe and effective in reducing tooth decay," the spokesperson said. "It benefits all members of the community irrespective of whether their personal circumstances or commitment to oral hygiene." The spokesperson said NSW Health was prepared to return to Balranald as requested. "Dr Shanti Siv-aneswarin, principal advisor at the Centre for Oral Health Strategy NSW, advises that NSW Health would be prepared to return to Balranald or to assist in other ways to inform the community about water fluoridation," the spokesperson said.

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