Debra Walz - Fluoride

55:09 Deborah Walsh: In relation to removing fluoride from Noosa Shire's drinking water, including a cost analysis and estimate timeframe on the impact of council's budget over a period of time to transition to fluoride free water.

55:25 Speaker 2: Thank you Deborah. It's important to highlight that Noosa Council does not manage the treatment and distribution of potable water in Noosa. The treatment is undertaken by SEQ water and distributed by Unity Water. As the operators of the fluoride dosing process, it is appropriate for SEQ water to provide advice on these matters. The questions received from council from Ms Walsh on the 5th of December 2023 was forwarded on to SEQ water for advice on the 7th of December 2023. I can advise that a response was finally received from Sec Water in April of this year. In their response, Sec Water confirmed that the fluoridation of water supply is a public concern. It is a public health measure administered by the Queensland Government. Sec Water monitors the fluoride concentrations in drinking water continuously and reports on the results to Queensland Health Regulatory. The response also states that to date no council that SEQ water supplies in South East Queensland has requested to cease fluoridation of potable water. Therefore, an economic cost analysis and works management timeframe is not available. As such, analysis would need to consider a range of factors given the Noosa water supply zone is connected to the broader SEQ water grid.

56:48 Noosa was connected to the grid in 2020-2012 to bolster water security for the region, particularly in times of drought. Notwithstanding that no specific economic cost analysis has been provided by SEQ water, given the Noosa water supply is connected and receives water from the broader SEQ water grid, it is clear that the process would be complex and the cost to ratepayers to remove fluoride from the potable water supply would likely be significant. The matters raised in the petition received by council is currently being reviewed and a response will be provided to you in due course.

57:27 Deborah Walsh: The second question is in relation to the Say No to Fluoride petition accepted and tabled at the Ordinary Meeting in December last year. The question is, what is the molecular form of the fluoride compound that is used in the Noosa Shire's water, including the origin of the compound, and is this compound chemically pure?

57:53 Speaker 2: Great question. The chemical process and materials employed in the fluoridation of water across SEQ are significantly outside the scope of council's remit. And therefore it's advised that this inquiry can be rescheduled. And therefore a request will be made that it can be best addressed directly with the water supply, SEQ water. What I would like to do, I'm happy to reach out directly to seek your contact from SEQ Water, to assist you with this inquiry, and any other similar inquiries you might have of a similar nature, just to assist with getting some responses to your very technical questions.