Not council’s problem?

Only one South Waikato town has fluoridated water and the power to change that might be taken away from the district’s council.

The South Waikato District Council supported a proposal by the Local Government of New Zealand (LGNZ) to remove the decision from local authorities.

Tokoroa residents are the only ones who have fluoridated water and if the proposal is accepted residents will have little say in future changes.

The controversial matter will be left with the director general of health if LGNZ gets its way.

Members of the LGNZ voted in favour of the proposal on Sunday and they will now lobby the Government to change the legislation.

Some of the district’s councillors decided it was best left with the government.

Mayor Neil Sinclair was afraid the issue could bring up legal dilemmas for the district.

‘‘South Taranaki got hit with the bill of a quarter of a million dollars to fend off a legal case of putting fluoride in the water and as we well know authorities pick on small places to challenge them,’’ he said.

The reduction of paperwork also seemed like a bonus, Sinclair said.

‘‘It will reduce our submissions to our annual plan by about third,’’ he said.

Councillor Marin Glucina was in full support to take it out of the district’s hands.

‘‘It’s an easy solution if the Government picks it up and I’m quite happy with it,’’ he said.