Port Macquarie-Hastings Council accepted Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams' invitation to engage in direct talks with NSW Health about water fluoridation locally instead of holding a community poll at the December council elections.

A council resolution invited councillors to provide questions, which they wanted asked of NSW Health, to be sent to Mrs Williams and the Department of NSW Health secretary.

A spokesperson for Mrs Williams confirmed the MP's office had received the council correspondence and it had been forwarded to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard.

Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann provided background evidence and asked 22 questions, along with a further nine questions on behalf of a community member.

Cr Intemann said her questions asked NSW Health to advise what actions they had taken to independently assess the risks from fluoridation for all sectors of the population and to reconsider its position in response to the published research information she provided.

Cr Sharon Griffiths put forward four questions with a focus on research and data.

Cr Griffiths said she wanted to know what the data really told us, if the data was still current and valid and whether there were feasible alternatives to water fluoridation.

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Mayor Peta Pinson did not provide any questions.

"The whole issue of fluoride is over for me because it was about the community having a say," Cr Pinson said.

Cr Geoff Hawkins said he had some input into questions but didn't put forward any questions himself.

Cr Peter Alley said he was confident the questions raised by the deputy mayor would cover community concerns so he didn't lodge any questions.

Cr Rob Turner said he didn't ask any questions as he was happy with the concept of fluoridating the water supply.

A rescission motion put a stop to the community poll on water fluoridation.

The poll, championed by the mayor and deputy mayor, had aimed to gauge community opinion by asking the question: "Do you want Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to permanently cease adding fluoride (hydrofluorosilicic acid) to the drinking water supply?"

Cr Intemann, who has been an anti-fluoride advocate for more than 17 years, made the difficult decision to put a successful motion to the September 6 extraordinary council meeting to rescind the poll as the issue had become "divisive" and was causing too much community angst.

The council decided, in a four to two vote, that discussion with the state government was the way forward.

Cr Pinson and Cr Griffiths did not support rescinding the poll and having direct talks with NSW Health about water fluoridation.

The council will advise councillors about replies to the questions as received and consult with the new council on the matter as part of their initial briefings.

Water fluoridation started here in February 2012 after the NSW Department of Health directed the council to add fluoride to the water supply.

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