Dust suppression FAQs

Council’s 2026–27 dust suppression program will be based on a consistent, evidence-based assessment across the municipality, with the program schedule to be released on 1 July 2026.

Following that, residents will also have the opportunity to apply for individual dust suppression treatments through Council’s Private Works Application process from 1 July to 30 September 2026.

A Private Works Agreement is a formal arrangement where a resident (or group of residents) funds or co-funds works that are delivered by Council or its appointed contractors. Under this arrangement, Council can assess, coordinate and manage the works in accordance with relevant standards and approvals, with costs borne by the requesting party.

If the resident wishes to explore this option further, they may submit a request for consideration.

• You request Council to undertake specific work.
• Council provides a cost for undertaking that work to the required standards.
• If you agree with that proposal and pay that cost, Council undertakes the work. 

The Private Works Applications will be assessed individually, as they are received. The final program, including any private works, will be locked in with our contractor by the end of October. 

The main component within the dust suppression product is Magnesium Chloride, which has been in use globally for road compaction/stabilisation and dust suppression as well as for road de-icing applications for many decades.

The use of Magnesium Chloride for road stabilisation and dust suppression has been approved by many government environmental bodies worldwide, incl. but not limited to;

• Ministry of Transportation and Highways, British Columbia, Canada
• USDA Forest Service, Gallatin National Forest, Bozeman, Montana.
• Victorian Department of Conservation and Environment, Melbourne Water Catchment Areas

The human toxicity and ecotoxicity of Magnesium Chloride has been widely studied, from uses as an FDA approved health and rejuvenation remedy to agricultural soil remediation additive. 

Under Council's current dust suppression contract, the product used is:

• DustMag is a proprietary blend that has been designed and developed specifically for dust suppression, stabilisation and as a compaction agent.
• Clear light orange product and odourless with an approximate pH of 6.5.
• Main component is Magnesium Chloride, which has been in use globally for road compaction/stabilisation and dust suppression as well as for road de-icing applications for many decades.
• DustMag is applied topically directly to the road surface via specialist application truck or watercart, typically between 1.5L – 2.0L / m2.
• DustMag is absorbed into the road surface and stays within the top clay structure of the road.
• Based on current knowledge of the ecotoxicity and the dilution rates in the practical application, the overall environmental risk of using DustMag is considered to be low.