RESIDENTS now have more time to make submissions on Rous Water’s review of environmental factors for the construction and operation of five fluoridation plants.

This news comes in the wake of a weekend NSW Health announcement that 48 per cent of children in the State have untreated tooth decay.

Rous general manager Kyme Lavelle said the public consultation period would now close on February 5 at 4.30pm.

“I recognise that many people travel over the Christmas/New Year period and may have missed the opportunity to participate in the consultation process,” he said.

This comes after complaints from the Ballina Fluoridation Free Network about the time frame.

Originally the deadline was set for January 18.

Spokeswoman for the group, Ilga Sleja, said that was ‘totally inadequate and inappropriate’.

The NSW Department of Health has issued Rous Water with a directive to provide fluoridated water to residents in the Ballina, Lismore and Richmond Valley council areas, but not Byron.

This led to the need for the purpose-built dosing plants at Clunes, Knockrow, Dorroughby, Corndale and Marom Creek.

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