The Barwon Association for Freedom from Fluoridation responded angrily to the State Government’s announcement to connect Geelong to Melbourne’s fluoridated water supply.

Group president Keith Oakley said fluoridation would cause many health problems, including causing brown and brittle teeth.

“I can understand connecting the water supplies in Victoria, but get rid of the fluoride,” Mr Oakley said.

“My main concern is that an estimated 1 per cent of the population will suffer side effects.

“There’s huge documentation from around the world on health problems. If one person suffers, that’s one person too many.”

A spokesman for Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said the level of fluoride in Geelong’s supply would not be as much as Melbourne’s level.

“Melbourne’s water fluoridation is currently one part per billion, so Geelong’s water supply will never have higher levels of fluoridation than one part per billion,” the spokesman said.

Mr Oakley said it was absurd to put medication into the supply without getting community support.

The State Government last year said it would only introduce fluoridation where there was demonstrated community support.

MP Lisa Neville acknowledged that fluoridation was a “big issue” in the Geelong region.

“Public health officials will now need to go through the process of talking to the community and working with the community in relation to the health issue,” she said.

“This is obviously not fluoride by stealth. What the community has said to us here and right across Victoria is they want the State Government to give water security. The priority here is delivering water security.”

The Liberal Party pledged last year that Geelong would stay free from fluoride if it won government.

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