By the end of the year South East Queenslanders will be drinking fluoridated water.

It’s the first phase of the State government’s 35 million dollar program to have the entire state’s water fluoridated by 2012, in an effort to improve the oral health of residents.

Queensland Health Minister Stephen Roberston unveiled the units which will dissolve fluoride powder in the water supply into five different locations in the south-east.

Landers Shoot, North Pine Dam, Mount Crosby, Molendinar and Mudgeeraba.

Premier Anna Bligh said it was a big leap forward for preventative health in Queensland.

Fluoridation is a safe, effective and proven preventative against tooth decay and I am committed to ensuring that future generations of Queenslanders will reap the benefits,’ she said.

The first phase of the program includes upgrades to plants at Mt Crosby and North Pine to cover greater Brisbane, Landers Shute on the Sunshine Coast, and Molendinar and Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast.

The remaining plants will be upgraded by the end of 2009.

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See Statement by the Minister of Health of the Queensland Government