Fluoride fiasco slammed

Pro-fluoride resident Natalie Bell has been left questioning Southern Downs Regional Council’s resolve after councilors “caved in” to “ratbaggery” and discontinued water fluoridation.

By ALENA HIGGINS

ANGRY pro-fluoride residents are coming out of the woodworks and demanding answers following council’s fluoride survey bungle. Southern Downs Regional councillors voted to discontinue water fluoridation late last month, despite receiving less than 50 per cent returns – the self-imposed target it had previously agreed on in order for the survey to be considered valid.
But while the vociferous anti-fluoride lobbyists are rejoicing, residents on the other side of the ledger are feeling well and truly jipped – and not just on the health front.
Warwick’s Natalie Bell said she was bitterly disappointed that young people will be denied the decay fighting benefits of a “safe and proven program” because SDRC reneged on its promise to keep the status quo.
“Council has an obligation to make logical decisions on behalf of the community and not be influenced by these people that go around scaremongering,” the retired clinical social worker said.
“This is a very self-focused group of people, probably roughly my age, and I am truly sorry they have put an extra burden on busy young families who want the best for their kids.”
Not only that, the “cave in” has raised doubts about council’s resolve and the way it conducts its business in general, Ms Bell said.
“Must I now take promises and statements from our elected representatives at Southern Downs Council as expedient and questionable at best, and at worst, possibly worthless?,” she queried.
Stanthorpe’s Chris Morison was equally appalled, “thanking” the lobbyists in a letter to the editor featured in the Free Times last week.
“For some reason, the rules have been ignored and a majority of our councillors have decided to bend over to a vocal minority who have no right to represent the wishes of the wider community,” Mr Morison said.
Cr Jo McNally conceded at council’s 26 November meeting that the high return rate of the non-compulsory survey was a “mistake”.
About two thirds of respondents wanted the practice stopped.