Fluoride comes to Ballina

ROUS Water and Ballina Shire Council will proceed with plans to add fluoride to water supplies in Ballina, Lismore and Wardell after winning an appeal in the NSW Land and Environment Court last week.

In handing down her judgment on Oshlack v Rous Water and Ballina council, Justice J Pepper dismissed the appeal and awarded costs to the councils, finding that "because Mr Oshlack had been unsuccessful on all of his grounds of review, the summons must be dismissed".

In 2010 Mr Oshlack initiated legal proceedings against Rous Water/Ballina Shire Council over a decision to undertake a review of environmental factors to allow for the construction of a fluoride dosing plant to allow fluoride to be added to local water supplies.

Chair of Rous Water and Ballina's mayor, councillor Phillip Silver, welcomed Justice Pepper's decision.

"This matter has been in the court since early 2010 and I am pleased Justice Pepper found in favour of Rous Water and awarded costs against Mr Oshlack," Cr Silver said.

"It will now allow us to call for tenders for the construction of the fluoride dosing plant and I expect the project will be completed in approximately 12 months.