JUST when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.

Lismore councillor Vanessa Ekins will put forward a motion next week calling for Lismore to reverse its decision on fluoridating the water supply.

She said the community consultation process was “dodgy” because the questions were leading and the sample group was predominantly over 60.

“They were asked things like ‘Are you aware of the health benefits of fluoride‘ and ‘Do you support fluoride for health reasons’. When we (councillors) were given the results of the consultation, we were given a presentation by a nice young man who owned super phosphate factories saying he could provide us with fluoride. I was outraged,” she said.

A lengthy legal challenge by anti-fluoride activist Al Oshlack failed, so Rous Water is currently calling for tenders to build four fluoride dosing plants to supply fluorinated water to residents in Lismore, Ballina and Richmond Valley council areas. Byron Shire Council voted not to fluoridate.

Cr Ekins said her decision to re-introduce the issue is based on the ruling in the Land and Environment Court that confirms the authority to fluoridate or not lies with the Local Government Authority.

Anti-fluoride campaigner Al Oshlack said the issue was not going to go away. He is planning a public meeting at Lismore Workers Club on Thursday, August 15 “to update people and explain what they can do”.

He said they are planning an awareness campaign in Lismore.

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