Dust Suppression
Dust generated by vehicle traffic is an ongoing nuisance for people who live close to unsealed gravel road and can cause a wide variety of effects including:
Dust from gravel roads pollutes the air, reduces visibility and road safety, can aggravate respiratory conditions and is a general nuisance, including landing on roofs and contaminating drinking water, covering gardens and household property.
Used oil has previously been able to be applied to roads to suppress dust.
However, there are potential effects of using used oil as a dust suppressant on human health and the environment and the use of used oil is no longer a permitted activity.
Under the proposed Southland Water and Land Plan, used oil is a recognised hazardous substance and can no longer be applied as a dust suppressant.
Consent Information
Consent information is available at Transport - Dust suppression and Dust suppression on Southland roads.
Dust suppressants can be applied as a permitted activity (i.e. no consent is required) if you use an approved suppressant in accordance with the conditions of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996. Please check with the consents team.
Environment Southland is aware of one commercial product called Road Dust Control (Gravel Lock), which is approved under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 for use as a dust suppressant and can be used without resource consent being obtained.
Other dust suppressant products require consent from Environment Southland to apply to land.
Please note that additional permits to apply products are also required from the city or district councils (TAs). Refer to Gore District Council and Southland District Council websites:
Gore District Council Dust Suppression
Southland District Council Dust Suppression sealing
Alternative dust suppression options
Water is the cheapest form of dust suppression.
Minimise dust by screening with vegetation and trees.
Sealing or paving - Road sealing options to reduce dust which can include bitumen, dunite gravel, Otta Seal. Discuss these options with your relevant Territorial Authority.
Dust reduction best practice information is available from the Ministry of the Environment Good Practice Guide to Assessing and Managing the Environmental effects of Dust Emissions
