The City of Greater Geelong is currently reviewing the roads to be included in the 2025/26 Dust Suppression Program.
Once the program is confirmed, this page will be updated with further information.
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 is currently reviewing the roads to be included in the 2025/26 Dust Suppression Program.
The program applies to a small number of unsealed roads that have historically received dust suppression treatment and have not since been re-sheeted as part of the City’s gravel road re-sheeting program.
As dust suppression is not part of our Road Management Plan service standards, roads that have not historically received dust suppression treatment will not be considered for inclusion in the program.
Once the 2025/26 program is confirmed, this page will be updated with further information.
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 become soft during wet weather. They cannot provide the same level of service as a sealed road.
Further information about gravel roads and our service standards is available on our gravel roads webpage.
Dust signage
Driving at lower speeds can reduce dust and helps protect the road surface.
While the City cannot enforce drivers to reduce their speed, temporary ‘Less Speed, Less Dust’ signs can be installed in areas where dust from gravel roads is of concern to residents.
If you would like these signs installed on your road, please submit a request online.
Common questions
The benefits of dust suppression treatment may last between 2 days and 3 months. Traffic volumes, vehicle speeds and weather conditions can affect how long the treatment remains effective.
The City has traditionally used magnesium chloride mixed with water for dust suppression. The road is graded, the solution is applied using a water truck, and the surface is then rolled.
Magnesium chloride works by attracting and retaining moisture, helping to reduce the amount of dust lifted from the road surface by traffic and wind.
Many factors can affect the amount of dust generated from a gravel road, including weather conditions, the road surface, vehicle speeds and traffic volumes.
Dust is generally more noticeable during the warmer, drier summer months when road surfaces contain less moisture.
Upgrading a gravel road to a sealed road can provide a longer-term solution to reduce dust.
The City offers a Special Rates and Charges (SRC) scheme for property owners who would like to consider contributing towards the cost of a road upgrade. Through an SRC scheme, a road upgrade may be brought forward where property owners contribute towards the project.
Yes. Driving at lower speeds can reduce the amount of dust generated by vehicles and can also help protect the gravel road surface.
Avoiding hard braking, rapid acceleration and sharp cornering can also help reduce dust and damage to the road surface.
The City may install temporary ‘Less Speed, Less Dust’ signs in locations where dust from gravel roads is a concern, encouraging drivers to slow down and help reduce dust.
Whether a road is sealed or unsealed does not, on its own, determine the speed limit. Default speed limits generally apply unless a different speed limit is signed.
Changes to speed limits are assessed against Victorian speed zoning requirements and require approval from the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP).
Dust alone is not generally a reason to reduce a speed limit. Drivers are encouraged to adjust their speed to suit the road and weather conditions, particularly on unsealed roads.
Sealing a gravel road can provide a longer-term solution to dust. However, upgrading a gravel road to a sealed road requires significant investment and ongoing maintenance.
The City has limited funding available for road upgrades, so decisions about which gravel roads are upgraded are based on strategic and operational priorities. More information is available on our gravel roads webpage.
Property owners can also request that their road be considered for upgrading through a Special Rates and Charge (SRC) scheme. Under an SRC scheme, property owners and the City may contribute towards infrastructure improvements that provide a special benefit to those properties.
Related information
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