The City of Greater Geelong’s dust suppression program has been completed for the summer of 2024/2025.
There will be no further roads that will receive dust suppression in summer 2024/2025.
Please refer to the 'Gravel Roads 2025 Re-sheeting Program' flyer regarding CoGG8 material regarding dust on your gravel road.
We understand that some residents across Greater Geelong are concerned about dust, especially over the warmer, drier summer months. Our Road Management Plan, which provides the service standards we offer for our roads, does not include managing dust.
Current Dust Suppression Program
The City of Greater Geelong’s dust suppression program has been completed for the summer of 2024/2025.
Unfortunately, representatives of the city will not be able to further discuss your request regarding dust suppression as the dust suppression program has been completed for the summer of 2024/2025.
There were only a small number of unsealed roads that received dust suppression this summer and they were roads that historically received dust suppression and have not received re-sheeting on the unsealed road as part of our re-sheet program.
Leading into the summer of 2025/2026 the city will review the dust suppression program. As dust suppression is not part of our service standards, roads that have not historically received dust suppression treatment will not be considered in future programs.
Gravel products
Gravel products with a higher clay content may produce less dust but can quickly become soft in wet weather. Gravel products with a lower clay content may produce more dust but generally perform better in wet weather. Regardless of the product, gravel roads will produce dust and may be soft during wet weather – they simply cannot provide the same level of service that a sealed road does.
Further information about gravel roads and our service standard is available on our gravel roads webpage.
Dust signage
Driving at lower speeds has proven to reduce dust and helps to protect the road surface. While we cannot enforce drivers to reduce their speed (Victoria Police is the responsible authority), we can install temporary ‘less speed less dust’ signs in areas where dust from gravel roads is of concern for residents.
If you would like these signs installed on your road, please submit a request via our website using this link.
Common questions
The benefits of dust suppression may last between 2 days and 3 months. Traffic volumes, vehicle speed and weather conditions can affect this timeframe.
Our dust suppression program has traditionally used magnesium chloride (salt) mixed with water and is applied to the gravel road using a water truck. The road is graded, the solution added, and then it is rolled. The solution works by attracting and retaining moisture from the air. It makes the road surface smoother, heavier, and less prone to lifting due to wind or traffic.
Many factors impact the level of dust raised on a gravel road, including but not limited to weather, climate, road surface, vehicle speeds and traffic volumes. Dust is predominately an issue in the summer months when road surfaces are extremely dry.
A higher level of service can be achieved if a gravel road is upgraded to a sealed surface. We offer a Special Rates and Charges (SRC) scheme as an option for property owners who would like to fast track a road upgrade project. Under an SRC scheme, a project may be expedited if property owners are willing to contribute funding towards the project.
Yes. Research has found that drivers can reduce dust levels by almost 50 per cent by slowing down from 50 to 35km per hour. Driving at lower speeds is proven to reduce dust and help protect the road surface. Avoiding hard braking, accelerating and cornering will also minimise dust, damage and corrugations. The City has installed ‘less speed less dust’ signs in some locations to encourage drivers to slow down to help reduce dust.
Whether or not a road is sealed does not affect the speed limit. The default speed limit is 100 kilometres per hour in rural areas and 50 kilometres per hour in urban areas.
A change to the speed limit must be approved by VicRoads and is assessed in accordance with state-wide guidelines that consider traffic volume, type of vehicle use, and location. VicRoads does not consider reducing dust to be a valid reason to reduce speed limits.
Sealing gravel roads provides the best solution for dust issues. However, the cost to construct a traditional sealed road and maintain it for 20 years is greater than the cost to maintain a gravel road for the same period.
Council has limited budget for road sealing projects and decisions on upgrading roads to a sealed surface are based on strategic and operational needs – refer to our gravel roads webpage for more information.
Property owners can request that their road be considered for upgrading to a sealed surface using a Special Rates and Charge (SRC) scheme. Under an SRC scheme, property owners and the City co-fund infrastructure upgrades that are of special benefit to a group of property owners.
Related information
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