Reports ‘misguided’

LOCKYER Valley Mayor Steve Jones has come out in support of Lockyer Valley farming families following “misguided reports” of cancer caused by contamination following the 2011 floods.

Reports of a “cancer cluster” caused by contamination at Grantham after the floods has angered farmers, with the security of local produce called into question.

“We have the safest and highest quality vegetable, beef and dairy products in the world and I back our local farming families 100 per cent,” Cr Jones said.

“To call into question the safeness of Lockyer Valley produce is disgraceful particularly when these statements are made without any evidence whatsoever.”

The Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry released a statement late last week which said the ongoing testing of the region’s vegetable, beef and dairy industries had not detected any significant contamination issues caused by the flooding.

“The testing regime our farmers go through are some of the most stringent in the world and I for one would much rather eat my vegetables knowing they’ve come from the Lockyer Valley,” Cr Jones said.