One thing that hasn’t been mentioned in this debate is who is going to foot the bill for the fluoridation plant or plants (if you have more than one water supply) and the ongoing running costs?

A 2006 NSW Department of Health report said for population over 10,000, at least $500,000 for each plant.  We are now in 2018 so this would have gone up exponentially. Running costs including training of staff, chemicals, repairs, maintenance, labor costs  and so on – it could be anything.

Either ratepayers or water ratepayers are going to foot the bill one way or another. If it comes out of rates is it fair that the majority on tank water have to pay also? There are bigger priorities for rates money to go on.

Rural areas in this day and age including Bega have a big problem with drugs, particularly Ice. Why? Because we are a huge area with a very small police force. 

We need community facilities including rehab to work with people who have this problem. We need community mental health facilities for those in our community who are challenged. We need community youth centres to get those kids who are anti-social or taking drugs off the streets. We need a centre to help grandparents and carers who through circumstances have care of children.

There are many other things Bega needs before we spend all that money on fluoridation. My advice, if you want fluoride buy toothpaste or go to the dentist.

Paul Strutynski, I am replying to your letter about my Just a Minute article (BDN, 19/11). It sounds like you really don’t believe in God’s ability to help people to overcome addictions.

I myself 33 years ago decided to give up smoking after learning of God’s great love for me. I had all the motivation I needed.  

As a child I grew up with an alcoholic father, so I am very familiar with the hurt, embarrassment and damage addiction can cause to families. I grieved for the families of Australia when I learned about the terrible problem with drugs in our communities, for the addicts as well as their families.

I realised that we struggle with various habits we find hard to control. This is why I wrote the article. I will always shine a light on practical scriptures to help people to turn to God in their time of trouble, because Jesus promised He would help them.  Surely they have a right to know this. Other points I can discuss in a future article.

It's great to see the NSW and Australian governments asking how to improve the sustainable management of our native forests (BDN, 9/2). The problem is, if we had sustainable management, forests wouldn't be subject to dieback and there would be more than one very small koala population, on the South Coast. These negative changes are directly linked to unsustainable management, that is all about taking, without putting anything back. 

Many landholders and gardeners in the broader community would be aware of the need to replace soil nutrients after growing food or fibre. Unfortunately this awareness isn't the cornerstone of public forest management, is lacking in the logging industry and seemingly the majority of environment groups. 

True sustainable forest management works within a nutrient budget and aims to increase soil fertility. The first step toward this management will only occur when the NSW and Australian governments, the logging industry and the majority of environment groups are in mutual accord with the broader community.  At that point the associated very serious emerging issues, particularly the threat to potable water supplies, may be taken seriously.