Far North roads set for dust suppression treatment

Far North District Council’s dust suppression programme for the upcoming summer season hits the road next month.

Work is due to start in late November and is expected to be completed by Christmas, with the treated sections of roads being monitored throughout the summer to ensure the suppression measures are effective.

The budget for the 2025/26 programme has been confirmed and the same roads that were treated last summer will be treated again this year.

Dust suppression is not subsidised by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), so FNDC funds the full cost of the work. This means no additional road sections can be added at this time.

The sections of roads selected for the dust suppression treatment have been assessed on several factors, including:

• Proximity of homes to the road edge
• Volume and type of traffic
• Residential use, tourism activity, and heavy vehicle movements.

This prioritisation aims to deliver the greatest benefit to communities most affected by dust. However, the council recognises that some residents will be disappointed that their roads are not included in this year’s programme.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy for managing unsealed roads. A formal dust matrix will be incorporated into FNDC’s Unsealed Road Strategy and reflected in the Transport Asset Management Plan due for completion by June next year. As part of this process, the council plans to adopt a Dust Control Policy.

FNDC remains committed to improving road conditions and reducing dust impacts for our communities.