The Burdekin Shire Council has become the latest council to vote against fluoridating its water supply.

Last year, the Queensland Government changed laws to give councils the option not to fluoridate local supplies.

Yesterday, Burdekin councillors voted four to three not to start the practice.

Mayor Bill Lowis says he wanted more community consultation.

“We’ve had quite a lot of media, through our local papers, against and for, and we’ve had quite a few dentists for the addition of fluoride but the feedback that councillors have had brought them to this conclusion,” he said.

He says cost played a factor in the decision.

“Adding another chemical if you like, it’s just another cost, cost was a factor and of course that’s a bigger expense and an ongoing expense to the council,” he said.

A dentist in the Burdekin Shire says he is appalled by the council’s decision not to fluoridate the water supply.

Paul Brice says it will have an ongoing detrimental effect on children’s oral health.

“Any mother out there that has had a two year old with a toothache or three year old with a toothache will know what they go through and we’re the poor buggers at the other end who have to treat these kids,” he said.

He says the decision is irresponsible and ill-informed.

“Well it shouldn’t be a choice, fluoride should be in the water and it’s practised just about everywhere else in Australia, if not the world,” he said.

“I don’t know why the hell it’s got to be an argument here. It should just go in the water like chlorine.”

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