A STATE government response to requests for help with funding the fluoridation of Bundaberg’s underground water supply has failed to provide any comfort on the issue, according to Bundaberg’s mayor Lorraine Pyefinch.

Commenting on a letter to Member for Bundaberg Jack Dempsey from Infrastructure and Planning Minister Stirling Hinchliffe, Cr Pyefinch said the letter had not provided any new information.

Cr Pyefinch said it confirmed discussions that Schedule One of the Water Fluoridation Regulation 2008 had to be changed by Parliament before the Minister would make a decision on funding fluoridation for Bundaberg’s six underground water supplies.

The letter stated that this would not be known until late 2010.

“We don’t want to see this issue drag on beyond Christmas – we want it sorted out,” Cr Pyefinch said.

At Tuesday’s general council meeting, the state government was criticised for its inaction on the issue.

Councillors unanimously voted in favour of a motion to advise Premier Anna Bligh, and the ministers for health and infrastructure, of the council’s inability to fund the infrastructure to fluoridate its groundwater bores sites.

These sites provide 70% of the city’s water.

Council was told the state government had only pledged to fund fluoridation of above-ground supplies, but had given councils a December 31, 2012 deadline for the installation of fluoridation.

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