Lithgow Council some months ago heard lengthy submissions from pro and anti fluoride lobbyists before voting by a clear majority to go ahead with the scheme.

Now finally it appears set for implementation.

Acting Group General Manager of Regional Services, Stephen Darlington, told the latest meeting of Council’s committees that the Fluoridation of Public Waters Advisory Committee had considered the request by Lithgow Council for fluoridation of its water supply at the May meeting.

The committee was told that Council had completed the necessary consultative process and had held general discussion on the issue.

Mr Darlington said the FPWSAC had unanimously agreed to recommend that fluoridation take place and the advice for the necessary gazettal has been referred to the Director General of the department.

It was recommended that this be implemented as soon as possible.

The committee commended Council on ‘taking this important public health initiative’.

They said the adjustment of fluoride levels in the water supply to one part per million will ‘provide the Lithgow community with proven benefits’.

The committee said these dental health benefits have been available to the greater majority of NSW for more than 50 years.

Mayor Neville Castle said he would now ask Council officers to prepare a report outlining the timetable for implementation.

The decision for fluoridation brought to finality a debate that had intermittently arisen in Council for more than 30 years.

This time around the campaign was spearheaded by NSW Health dental health authorities, including staff from the dental centre at Lithgow Hospital.

They gave impassioned addresses to Council outlining the poor record of dental health among Lithgow children when compared to Local Government areas with fluoridation, including the neighbouring Blue Mountains.

Opposing lobbyists, including some from interstate, argued that fluoridation had unacceptable side effects.

Lithgow’s water from the Farmers Creek system will be fluoridated at the Oakey Park treatment plant.