Dust Suppression

Dust Suppression and Our Unsealed Roads

Whilst many of our residents enjoy the ‘country feel’ associated with living on an unsealed road, the prospect of a long hot summer ahead has highlighted one of the downfalls of this lifestyle choice.

In a similar way as lack of rain impacts on our gardens, the lack of rain also impacts on our roads. Water is an essential element of an unsealed road, responsible for binding the particles that hold these roads together. In our current climate, surface moisture quickly evaporates and any remaining moisture is drawn deeper into our thirsty earth. The result is dry dusty roads.

Council is increasingly being asked what can be done about the dust and in response we stress the importance of the need for road users to drive according to the conditions of the road. After all, would you drive 100km/h in a thick fog?  We also stress that road users consider the residents along these roads and drive at appropriate slower speeds and remember:

LESS SPEED = LESS DUST. 

Council apply Dust Suppression material annually to selected sections of unsealed roads that may service a community asset or is used as a thoroughfare. To see if your street is part of this proactive program, please visit this link. View the dust suppression program(PDF, 170KB). 

Any resident can enquire regarding dust suppression for their road. This is not a Council funded program; it is a cost neutral service Council assist with programming. The Dust Suppression treatment is traditionally applied early in December for a two-week period and in Season 2022, Council is hoping that if demand is exceeded, we can arrange additional treatments in January for a selected period. 

The 2022 Dust Suppression program applications were open from Monday 17 October 2022 until 11:59pm Sunday 13 November 2022.  

You can also view our Frequently asked Questions(PDF, 168KB) for further information.