
Victory for Common Sense in Fluoride Saga - Fluoridation to cease January 8 2015
Following a highly controversial survey of water connection ratepayers in Southern Downs, The Southern Downs Regional Council was advised to declare the survey invalid because it failed to obtain the stated 50% return of surveys in each town area of Warwick and Stanthorpe.
This news whilst expected by most of us, was greeted with dismay and prompted our President Bob Johnson to comment that ‘our interpretation of the results is that the survey sample has produced results that clearly show with a remarkably high level of statistical significance that 2/3 of the Stanthorpe and Warwick population is against fluoridation – probably more than 2/3 in fact.
The 27% return of surveys is a good sample of our population in the region and is far greater than would be expected in any non-compulsory survey and is remarkable at the very least. It shows the depth of concern which is out there.’Other comparable surveys were decided on returns of fewer than 5% so the stipulation of a 50% return of surveys was considered unreasonable to gauge public feeling.
A sizeable group of petitioners and supporters of ceasing fluoridation of town water made their presence felt at the Stanthorpe SDRC meeting where the survey result was to be announced.
In the woefully inadequate space allowed for the public, were gathered over 25 people, some were seated outside of the chamber but within eyesight of the Mayor and his managers. One supporter was very vocal about the cramped conditions and the difficulty in hearing deliberations even in such a small space. Her objections led to the Mayor demanding her silence and then adjournment of the meeting until she removed to the foyer.
It became obvious that the Mayor was uncomfortable with an audience present and he moved successfully to have the fluoridation survey moved up the agenda. As was expected the Chief Engineer, Peter See advised that the survey be ruled invalid.
After a bit of sign language between Cr. Bartley and Cr. Pennisi, Cr Pennisi rose to move that as the 50% return requirement was unreasonable, the council should accept that an average 25% return was clear indication of the depth of feeling in the SDRC and for the council to immediately vote to cease fluoridation.
After a brief debate, the motion was voted on and passed to the cheers of those in the gallery.
This is an example of the will of the people finally being successful in penetrating the haze of bureaucratic smokescreens placed before us as ratepayers every time we dare to question a council decision.
It is a victory for common sense and the virtue of persistence. In the end it was not the scare tactics of either side of the argument which carried the day but the sheer injustice of demanding compulsory fluoridation for only a few residents on the say-so of the next tier of government.
The residents and ratepayers of Southern Downs had a well deserved win!

Some of the very happy residents of Southern Downs who attended the decisive Council Meeting on November 26 2014
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