A MULTI-national company that has been operating in Australia for 40 years is likely to win the contract to upgrade the fluoride plant at South Grafton.

Prominent Fluid Controls has submitted a price of $243,561.90 to Clarence Valley Council for the design, installation and commissioning of a fluoridation upgrade at Rushforth Road.

Councillors will vote on the tender at its meeting today.

Last year NSW Health engaged Atom Consulting to review the fluoride dosing at the Rushforth Road Chlorination and Fluoridation plant.

It found the plant needed to be upgraded to meet current legal requirements for fluoride plants.

The report found there was a high risk to worker safety due to the dust emissions from the existing equipment if the plant was not upgraded.

There was also a legal risk associated with non compliance with the fluoridation code and environmental risk by allowing fluoride to escape into the atmosphere.

Under current NSW laws the council must continue to supply fluoridated water.

The laws say once a council offers fluoridation it can only cease if the State Government revokes the approval to supply.

The recommendation for councillors is to accept the tender from Prominent and also allow the general manager authority to approve variations up to 10% of the contract sum.

NSW Health has advised the council there would be a 100% subsidy for eligible costs up to $300,000 for this contract.

Council staff have recomended the council continue to fund the project internally until it becomes clear what parts of the project are eligible for the government subsidy.

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