MAYOR Paul Antonio has issued a stern warning to councillors over “premature discussion” about a impending decision about the region’s water fluoridation program.
Conjecture about the approaching verdict began after a public Twitter post by Cr Nancy Sommerfield last Monday.
“I will be urging TRC to stop fluoridating Toowoomba’s water,” she posted.
“(Ninety-eight per cent) of it goes down the drain and our water system complicates dosage accuracy.”
The final fate of the region’s infant fluoride scheme was handed back to local governments by Premier Campbell Newman in November last year.
The decision was first delayed by Christmas holidays, but still failed to make the agenda in yesterday’s council meeting.
Cr Antonio reminded his City Hall colleagues they could access scheduled topics for meetings from council’s website on their preceding Friday evening.
“There has been some premature discussion on this and I have dealt with that very clearly within the system,” he said.
Australian Dental Association council member and Toowoomba dentist Dr Rob Sivertsen believes more discussion is exactly what is needed when dealing with such a divisive issue.
He has invited councillors to contact the ADA to discuss their views on the fluoride.
He said to date he had only received calls from Cr John Gouldson who has since stated he believed maintaining the region’s existing fluoridation infrastructure was the right option if cost-effective.