Dust suppression

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Dust Suppression on Unsealed Roads

Council has reviewed how dust suppression is delivered across the municipality and is exploring new ways to provide this service in a sustainable, consistent and evidence-based manner.

Ongoing financial constraints, together with increasing traffic volumes on unsealed roads, are impacting Council’s ability to deliver dust suppression treatments across all locations.

As part of this review, Council is adopting a data-driven approach that considers road use, asset condition and community needs. This work also aligns with Council’s broader Unsealed Roads Management approach and ongoing asset condition reviews.  Council’s 2026-27 Draft Budget has allocated an extra $50,000 to expand the annual dust suppression program for unsealed roads.

Council has also undertaken trials of dust suppression treatments to help manage the condition and performance of sections of the unsealed road network during dry conditions.

How Roads Will Be Assessed

A range of factors will be considered when determining priority locations for dust suppression, including:

  • Outcomes of the unsealed roads management review
  • Road asset condition audits
  • Traffic volumes (typically a minimum of 50 vehicles per day)
  • Percentage of heavy vehicle traffic
  • Whether the road is a school bus route
  • 85th percentile vehicle speeds (the speed at or below which 85% of vehicles travel)
  • Number of dwellings located within 50 metres of the road segment

Due to financial and operational constraints, not all roads will be able to be included in the program.

Important Information

Dust suppression treatments are designed to reduce dust, but they do not eliminate dust entirely. Effectiveness can vary depending on weather conditions, traffic volumes and road use.

Dust Suppression - Property Owner Contribution

Where a road is not included in Council’s program, residents may apply for dust suppression through a Property Owner Contribution.

Dust Suppression - Property Owner Contributions are:

  • Partly funded by the applicant
  • Subject to Council approval
  • Required to meet technical and operational standards

Applications for a property owner contribution will be considered from mid July to 30 September 2026.

Council will also consider applications where there are relevant medical circumstances.

Next Steps

Council’s evidence-based dust suppression program will be published on the website from mid July 2026.

2025 Dust Suppression Program (current program)

Check out which road segments received dust suppressant in the December 2025-January 2026 program.

Roads-treated-in-the-2025-Dust-Suppression-Program (PDF)(PDF, 432KB)

Roads-treated-in-the-2025-Dust-Suppression-Program (Excel)(XLSX, 15KB)

Find answers to common questions about our dust suppression program on our FAQs page.

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