Published Sunday, 31 August, 2008 at 05:00 AM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
SEQ fluoridation rollout on target
Queensland has moved a step closer to huge improvements in dental health after the signing of contracts to construct water fluoridation facilities in South East Queensland.
Premier Anna Bligh said Tenix Alliance has won the tender to upgrade the region’s six priority plants as part of the State’s Government’s $35 million program to provide fluoridated water to all Queenslanders by 2012.
Work will start on fluoride facilities at Mt Crosby next month.
“This is a big leap forward for preventative health in Queensland,” Ms Bligh said.
“Fluoridation is a safe, effective and proven preventative against tooth decay and I am committed to ensuring that future generations of Queenslanders will reap the benefits.”
Ms Bligh said the first phase of the South East Queensland program would include upgrades to two plants at Mt Crosby and North Pine covering Greater Brisbane; Landers Shute on the Sunshine Coast; and Molendinar and Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast. The remaining SEQ plants will be upgraded by the end of 2009.
“The good news today is the SEQ program is on track to deliver fluoridated water from December this year.’’
“I have no doubt fluoridation will become one of the State’s most important investments in the future health of our children,’’ she said.
Ms Bligh said Tenix Alliance had designed and constructed more than 30 treatment plants across Australia.
The SEQ Fluoride Program is being managed by new bulk water authority Seqwater on behalf of the State Government.
Chief Executive Officer of Seqwater, Peter Borrows, confirmed that the Tenix tender included both the design and construct of the fluoride plants.
“Site work is planned to start at Mt Crosby next month and rolled out concurrently across the other sites from October, ‘’ he said.
Extensive operator training will also be undertaken as part of the rollout.
Ms Bligh 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%).
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Premier Anna Bligh said Tenix Alliance has won the tender to upgrade the region’s six priority plants as part of the State’s Government’s $35 million program to provide fluoridated water to all Queenslanders by 2012.
Work will start on fluoride facilities at Mt Crosby next month.
“This is a big leap forward for preventative health in Queensland,” Ms Bligh said.
“Fluoridation is a safe, effective and proven preventative against tooth decay and I am committed to ensuring that future generations of Queenslanders will reap the benefits.”
Ms Bligh said the first phase of the South East Queensland program would include upgrades to two plants at Mt Crosby and North Pine covering Greater Brisbane; Landers Shute on the Sunshine Coast; and Molendinar and Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast. The remaining SEQ plants will be upgraded by the end of 2009.
“The good news today is the SEQ program is on track to deliver fluoridated water from December this year.’’
“I have no doubt fluoridation will become one of the State’s most important investments in the future health of our children,’’ she said.
Ms Bligh said Tenix Alliance had designed and constructed more than 30 treatment plants across Australia.
The SEQ Fluoride Program is being managed by new bulk water authority Seqwater on behalf of the State Government.
Chief Executive Officer of Seqwater, Peter Borrows, confirmed that the Tenix tender included both the design and construct of the fluoride plants.
“Site work is planned to start at Mt Crosby next month and rolled out concurrently across the other sites from October, ‘’ he said.
Extensive operator training will also be undertaken as part of the rollout.
Ms Bligh 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%).
Premiers 07 32244500