Plans for water fluoridation revealed in Bellingen Shire
Fluoride will be added to the water supply in Bellingen Shire, New South Wales, from today, it has been announced.
Local residents have received a letter this week to inform them of the plans to start water fluoridation in the area; the letter contains information about the fluoride programme and a booklet outlining the reasons why fluoride is being added to the water system. The move has come in light of a recommendation from the New South Wales Department of Health. The council has recently funded the construction of two fluoride plants in Dorrigo and Bellingen.
The decision to start fluoridation was made back in 2005 at a council meeting; councillors were informed of the health department’s plans to add fluoride to local water supplies and construction started on the fluoride plants.
In July, a representative from the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DEDDW) visited the plants to carry out tests and Dr Clive Wright, Chief Dental Officer from the New South Wales Health Department wrote to the council in October to authorise the start of fluoridation in Bellingen Shire.
The introduction of fluoridation is likely to provoke debate and anger amongst local residents, who have been largely opposed to fluoridation; a local poll found that 75 percent of people were opposed to fluoridation.
Representatives from the council revealed that the move had been approved following rigorous testing by the DEDDW; tests were carried out to ensure that the plants were functioning properly and providing the recommended dose of fluoride.
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