Restore water fluoridation to the Port Macquarie Hastings Local Government Area
Petitioner:
Dr Mark Stewart
| Member:
Williams, Leslie
| No. of Signatories:
397
| Date closed:
28/09/2021
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly,
We call upon the NSW government to take immediate action to ensure restoration of fluoridation of all municipal water supplies within the Port Macquarie Hastings area.
This was ceased in late 2019 due to drought (without widespread notification of the community) and has not been restored to the majority of residents despite the drought breaking more than a year ago.
Until recently Council refused to take action until a poorly worded, non-binding and expensive poll was conducted. This poll has been abandoned but the water remains unfluoridated despite the NSW government offering to rebate the cost of any new facilities required to allow resumption of fluoridation.
In the meantime the oral health of this region suffers, particularly that of children and Indigenous people, groups who derive the greatest benefit from water fluoridation.
Water fluoridation has been safely and effectively used in NSW for decades and is supported by manifold peak health bodies including the Australian Dental Associated, Australian Medical Association, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Public Health Association of Australia, the World Health Organisation, Centre for Disease Control (USA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
We urge the NSW government to employ all means at their disposal to restore this vital public health measure to the people of the Port Macquarie Hastings district, and to do so as soon as possible.
The Team from Westside Medical Centre Port Macquarie NSW.
