The Gympie region will remain the only local government area in southern Queensland’s Wide Bay-Burnett to fluoridate its water supply.

Yesterday, the Gympie Regional Council voted six-to-two to continue its fluoridation program after hearing from experts on both sides.

The Bundaberg, Fraser Coast and North Burnett councils have decided to remove fluoride, after being handed powers by the State Government last year.

However, dentist Michael Foley says the health benefits of fluoride far outweigh the costs.

“For councillors to sift through the evidence and actually decide what it is in the best interests of their community and come out with supporting a major public health decision like water fluoridation, I think it’s a wonderful decision,” he said.

“They’ve done their community a big long-term favour.

“Water fluoridation is one of the few public health measures that not only improves our health, it saves us a lot of money.”