About Us

We are committed to obtaining a moratorium on the fluoridation of all public drinking water supplies.

The group shares its concerns with many other groups, scientists, health professionals and environmentalists concerned about the effects of fluoridation on human health, fauna and flora and the environment throughout NSW, Australia and the world.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

• To raise community awareness of the dangers and damage to public health and the environment of water fluoridation on the Central Coast
• To gain the support of Federal, State and Local Government officials and local representatives to stop fluoridation of public water supplies
• To network with, and support other anti-fluoridation groups both in Australia and worldwide

The Premier, Mr. Iemma, has publicly stated that he feels public health needs to be dealt with at the source by prevention, rather than cure. We heartily agree with this, but find it difficult to understand why there is a continued persistence by the State Government to fluoridate the water supplies when there is so much evidence that indicates fluoride contributes to other ailments such as arthritic conditions, asthma and cancer. The treatment of these conditions would be creating a greater strain than tooth decay on the limited finances of the hospital and health system.

In their 2004 report Armfield and Spencer from the Dental School in Adelaide concluded that, “The effect of consumption of nonpublic water on permanent caries experience was not significant.” This same result is borne out in many other comparative regions of fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities and in a number of these cases the non-fluoridated communities had better dental health e.g. Northern Sydney (fluoridated) vs. Mid North Coast (non-fluoridated) ref. Page 11 The Child Dental Health Survey, NSW 2000.

Fluoride has over the past century been a major cause of air and water pollution.
Fluoride is not biodegradable and as a waste product it is illegal to dump it at sea. The governments and water authorities that purchase this waste product are ensuring that it continues to pollute. Over this time too there have been numerous cases of fluoride poisoning and severe allergic reactions even from amounts as low as 0.7ppm, the amount we put into the water supplies.

It is of grave concern to us that in the 1940s both the American Medical Authority and the American Dental Authority both editorialized against fluoride, noting it was not only toxic to human life and vegetation, but also eroding tooth enamel and structurally damaging teeth.

However, this very same waste product is being touted as a cheap fix to dental decay. What has now been discovered is that after nearly 40 years of fluoridation in Sydney dental decay is at an all time high (ref. SMH 15.2.05). However, the Director General of Health in NSW isn't recommending a review of the practice of fluoridation to ascertain if it could be contributing to the weakening enamel and subsequent decay. Only the NH&MRC have made recommendations to review the practice in their 1991 and 1999 Reviews of Water Fluoridation and Fluoride Intake from Discretionary sources. Ref: Letter from the NH & MRC (24.2.05) noting that “the review was deficient in a number of areas….”

Our Association has raised our concerns and made recommendations in two submissions to the Inquiry into Dental Services in NSW and seek to have your support for the recommendations proposed by us. (A copy of our submissions is in the accompanying information book Fluoridation….why oppose it?)

Because of the many concerns regarding the safety of fluoridation and the fact that there have been so many complaints made to the National Health and Medical Research Council regarding fluoride, we ask for support in our efforts to ensure that the NH&MRC undertake a full review of fluoridation.

We maintain that just like DDT, lead in petrol, asbestos, thalidomide, mercury, tobacco, Vioxx, Celebrex and other similar drugs, fluoride will eventually be eliminated from our water supplies. Just like most of the overseas countries. However, fluoride in its toxic form will continue to plague our environment due to the failure of our authorities to act quickly enough and the greed of the big corporations who need to dispose of this waste product at no cost to themselves.

To get action from the authorities we need your help.

ACTIONS TO DATE:

GOSFORD CITY COUNCIL

Twice ensured that the Gosford City Council held community consultation polls regarding addition of fluoride to the public drinking water supply in 1984 and again in 1991. The community twice rejected fluoridation by a majority of 65 – 70%.

Maintained a constant vigil of opposing fluoridation State and Australia wide and educating the community on the dangers of fluoridation by the distribution of up to date information.

In 2004/05 once again fluoridation of the Gosford City water supply was debated in the Council. This followed the release of a 2-page document by the State Department of Health relating to the poor dental health of 0-5 year olds in Gosford City area. The report sought to prey on the emotions of the public, but to date no information about how thorough the study was, whether the children's dietary habits were analysed and whether it was a double-blind randomised trial has been forthcoming from the State Department of Health.
As a consequence the CCPWA has sought this information by way of a Freedom of Information request which, has all but been denied to us by a charge of at least $622.50.

The CCPWA, following extensive lobbying, providing the latest evidence of the dangers of fluoridation, meetings with Councillors and media releases and letters ensured that Gosford Council chose not to act to fluoridate the public water supply.

It was a five all vote with the Mayor holding the casting vote.
For the recommendation: (opposing Fluoridation): Chris Holstein, Robert Bell, Terri Latella, Trevor Drake and the Mayor Malcolm Brooks. Against the recommendation: (for Fluoridation) Vicki Scott (Labor), Laurie Maher, Jim Macfadyen (Labor), Peter Hale, Craig Doyle.

Those opposing the recommendation maintain the present status of no fluoride in the public drinking water supplies put forward a motion to have the matter referred to the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Advisory Committee. This State Government Committee comprised of chiefly health officials and bureaucrats and engineers is charged with ensuring that all public drinking water supplies are fluoridated. There is some concern from our group and others that these Committee members neither represent the general community nor are they given access to public submissions and information, which maintain and confirm the dangers of water fluoridation.
The CCPWA has sought to confirm the substance of the discussions of this Committee by seeking to obtain the public minutes and submissions made to it by way of a Freedom of Information request, which has all but been denied to us by a charge of at least $622.50.

Minutes of meetings for other community and public organisations are public documents and legally have to be made available to the general public.

At present the matter has not been further discussed at Gosford Council, however concern has been raised about fluoride reaching some of the Gosford City area residents at various drought periods by way of the interchange of water between Wyong and Gosford.

Presently, the Gosford Council has no community mandate to permit ANY artificially fluoridated water into the Gosford region, however the State Government permits the addition of artificial fluoride up to 180 days per year.

We continue to keep Gosford Councillors appraised of the latest information on fluoridation.

WYONG SHIRE RESIDENTS NEVER CONSULTED ABOUT FLUORIDATION

The CCPWA has lobbied Wyong Shire Council persistently since the 1990's and twice assisted the matter to be debated in Wyong Shire Council, with the request that the community finally be consulted on fluoridation. This was not supported by the majority of councillors. However, as fluoride had been approved by the State Government in 1966 following council deliberation over a period of 3 years the only way that Wyong Shire Council can stop fluoridating the water is with State Government approval.
We continue to lobby for community consultation on fluoridation in Wyong Shire.

History of Wyong Shire fluoridation: Fluoride was introduced to the Wyong Shire public water supply in April 1967 following debate by the Council between 1963 and 1966. The vote for the final decision was FOR - 5 Councillors: AGAINST- 5 Councillors. This meant that the Shire President (Mayor) had to use his casting vote which ultimately approved fluoridation for Wyong. The community was not consulted and therefore did not have the opportunity to reject fluoridation.

We are continuing to lobby and inform Wyong Shire Councillors about fluoridation in the hope that they will finally conduct a community consultation poll.

The CCPWA continues to meet monthly and has been lobbying state and local members while also educating the general public.

We have written submissions to the State Standing Committee on Social Issues who have undertaken a Statewide Inquiry into Dental Health (insert link to both our submissions)

We have a booklet and DVD available and offer to speak at the functions of various organisations.

If you would like to join us or if you would like more information you can contact us at

If you can't spare your time but would like to help financially you can donate using paypal