FLUORIDE ON TRACK FOR SOUTH WEST QUEENSLAND
Published Sunday, 31 August, 2008 at 12:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
The State Government has appointed the companies Cardno and Beca to manage the fluoridation of water across regional Queensland.
Premier Anna Bligh said the South West Queensland Local Governments of Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Roma, Paroo, Murweh, Goondiwindi, Dalby and Balonne will progressively have their water supplies fluoridated from 2009 through until 2012.
“The regional fluoride program is on track to commence from the beginning of 2009,” said the Premier.
“The first fluoridation unit to be installed in South West Queensland will be at Toowoomba’s Mt Kynoch water treatment plant by the end of 2009.
“This will be followed in 2010 by Crows Nest, Highfields, Millmerran and Yarraman in Toowoomba Regional Council and Warwick and Stanthorpe in Southern Downs Regional Council.
“2011 will see fluoridation of water supply schemes at Chinchilla and Miles ini Dalby Regional Council, Inglewood and Goondiwindi in Goondiwindi Regional Council and Charleville in Murweh Shire Council.
“By the end of 2012 we’ll have finished the program for the region with fluoride for Cambooya, Clifton, Hodgsinvale, Pittsworth-Brookstead and Wyreema in Toowoomba Regional Council, Cunnamulla in Paroo Shire Council, St George in Balonne Shire Council and Roma in Roma Regional Council.
“Fluoridation is a safe, effective and proven preventative against tooth decay and will become one of the State’s most important investments in the future health of our children.
“It will reverse a trend that has resulted in Queensland kids having the worst teeth in the country and it will deliver dental health benefits to our future generations that other Australians have been enjoying for up to 40 years.
“Townsville has been supplying fluoridated water since1964, the only major Queensland city to do so. Numerous studies have found substantial declines in tooth decay in Townsville children within 10 years of the introduction of fluoride.
”I am proud that my Government has committed $35 million to fluoridate Queensland’s water supplies over the next four years.
“Within two years, 80% of Queenslanders will have access to fluoridated water, increasing to more than 90% by 2012. “
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas said from early 2009, the roll-out will focus on indigenous communities and major regional centres, moving through to other regional and rural areas by the end of 2012.
“Cardno and Beca will provide a strong combination of program management and fluoridation experts to undertake the project and work closely with the Government,” said Mr Lucas.
“The Cardno/Beca team will project manage a network of suppliers for the design, supply and installation of fluoridation plants across regional Queensland.”
Mr Lucas said water fluoridation would be phased into water treatment plants in the following local government areas:
2008: SEQ major water treatment plants - Mt Crosby (2 plants), Landers Shute, Molendinar, Mudgeeraba and North Pine (54%)
2009: SEQ minor water treatment plants, Indigenous communities, commencement of Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton and Toowoomba Regional. (80%)
2010: Completion of Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay and Rockhampton; Fraser, Gympie, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, commencement of Dalby (83%)
2011: Blackall, Emerald, Dalby completion, Goondiwindi, Hinchinbrook, Longreach, Mornington, Mt Isa, Murweh, North Burnett, Rio Tinto (Weipa), Tablelands, Whitsunday (92%)
2012: Balonne, Banana, Barcaldine, Bundaberg, Burdekin, Carpentaria, Charters Towers, Cassowary, Cloncurry, Flinders, Isaac, Roma, Toowoomba Regional completion (95%).
% estimated State coverage of residents on a reticulated water supply.
Media contact: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868 Matthew Klar 0437 435 223
Premier Anna Bligh said the South West Queensland Local Governments of Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Roma, Paroo, Murweh, Goondiwindi, Dalby and Balonne will progressively have their water supplies fluoridated from 2009 through until 2012.
“The regional fluoride program is on track to commence from the beginning of 2009,” said the Premier.
“The first fluoridation unit to be installed in South West Queensland will be at Toowoomba’s Mt Kynoch water treatment plant by the end of 2009.
“This will be followed in 2010 by Crows Nest, Highfields, Millmerran and Yarraman in Toowoomba Regional Council and Warwick and Stanthorpe in Southern Downs Regional Council.
“2011 will see fluoridation of water supply schemes at Chinchilla and Miles ini Dalby Regional Council, Inglewood and Goondiwindi in Goondiwindi Regional Council and Charleville in Murweh Shire Council.
“By the end of 2012 we’ll have finished the program for the region with fluoride for Cambooya, Clifton, Hodgsinvale, Pittsworth-Brookstead and Wyreema in Toowoomba Regional Council, Cunnamulla in Paroo Shire Council, St George in Balonne Shire Council and Roma in Roma Regional Council.
“Fluoridation is a safe, effective and proven preventative against tooth decay and will become one of the State’s most important investments in the future health of our children.
“It will reverse a trend that has resulted in Queensland kids having the worst teeth in the country and it will deliver dental health benefits to our future generations that other Australians have been enjoying for up to 40 years.
“Townsville has been supplying fluoridated water since1964, the only major Queensland city to do so. Numerous studies have found substantial declines in tooth decay in Townsville children within 10 years of the introduction of fluoride.
”I am proud that my Government has committed $35 million to fluoridate Queensland’s water supplies over the next four years.
“Within two years, 80% of Queenslanders will have access to fluoridated water, increasing to more than 90% by 2012. “
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas said from early 2009, the roll-out will focus on indigenous communities and major regional centres, moving through to other regional and rural areas by the end of 2012.
“Cardno and Beca will provide a strong combination of program management and fluoridation experts to undertake the project and work closely with the Government,” said Mr Lucas.
“The Cardno/Beca team will project manage a network of suppliers for the design, supply and installation of fluoridation plants across regional Queensland.”
Mr Lucas said water fluoridation would be phased into water treatment plants in the following local government areas:
2008: SEQ major water treatment plants - Mt Crosby (2 plants), Landers Shute, Molendinar, Mudgeeraba and North Pine (54%)
2009: SEQ minor water treatment plants, Indigenous communities, commencement of Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton and Toowoomba Regional. (80%)
2010: Completion of Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay and Rockhampton; Fraser, Gympie, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, commencement of Dalby (83%)
2011: Blackall, Emerald, Dalby completion, Goondiwindi, Hinchinbrook, Longreach, Mornington, Mt Isa, Murweh, North Burnett, Rio Tinto (Weipa), Tablelands, Whitsunday (92%)
2012: Balonne, Banana, Barcaldine, Bundaberg, Burdekin, Carpentaria, Charters Towers, Cassowary, Cloncurry, Flinders, Isaac, Roma, Toowoomba Regional completion (95%).
% estimated State coverage of residents on a reticulated water supply.
Media contact: Robert Hoge 0419 757 868 Matthew Klar 0437 435 223