By Brooke Jacobson

Dubbo is not the only place in western NSW going without fluoride in the water supply.

Towns in the Warrumbungle Shire have been dealing with the issue for the past seven years.

Fluoridation was discontinued in Coonabarabran in December 2015 and the plants in Binnaway and Baradine have been offline since January 2017.

Fluoride dosing systems in Coolah and Mendooran were installed but have never operated.

However, earlier this year funding was confirmed by NSW Health to reinstate a water fluoridation plant in Coolah and discussions continue about funding for the other four sites across the Shire.

Warrumbungle Shire Council mayor, Ambrose Doolan, released a statement announcing $130,000 had been provided to pay for the full cost of reinstating the fluoridation plant.

“With continued discussions, a pathway to establish fluoride at the remaining four sites, Baradine, Binnaway, Coonabarabran and Mendooran, will be looked at in the coming months,” he said.

“Fluoridation of potable water supplies were ceased due to design faults in the dosing system.

“This is a design fault that has affected many small water treatment plants across NSW.

“A new fluoridation system has been developed and has received approval from both NSW Health and the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Environment.

“It will be great to see these upgrades come to life as the community has brought this topic to light, particularly at Community Consultation Meetings, to say that this is an important issue.”

He added Dunedoo’s water supply had naturally occurring fluoride and did not require a fluoridation plant.

In April this year, Dubbo Regional Council’s CEO, Murray Wood, was advised Dubbo had not been supplied with fluoridated water since January 2019 due to a leaking storage tank.

Council has engaged Public Works to assess the situation and to develop a plan so that council can meet its obligations under the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act.