Meeting minutes

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                      20 NOVEMBER 2025


7.    DEPUTATIONS

7.1   APPLICANT: ROB DESSAIX, COOTHARABA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
      TOPIC: COMMUNITY SAFETY - TRAFFIC AND FORESHORE CONCERNS
      SPEAKERS: ROB DESSAIX, JAN GREEN


7.2   APPLICANT: RANDAL DELANEY, PEREGIAN BEACH RESIDENTS AGAINST
      ACTIVE STREETS
      TOPIC: PEREGIAN BEACH ACTIVE STREET
      SPEAKERS: RANDAL DELANEY


8.    PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

8.1   ALAN DEERING

      QUESTION 1
      In answer to my public question of 18/9/2025, part of the response was "Based on current
      material usage, maintenance practices and environmental exposure conditions, there is
      minimal to no health risk from silica dust generated by unsealed gravel roads in the Noosa
      Council region. There is no confirmed evidence of harmful silica dust concentrations in these
      areas, and no recorded public health impacts attributable to road dust". As a 40 year owner
      on Cooroy Mountain Road, I have concerns about the health effects of long-time exposure to
      fine particle road dust on myself, and especially on my partner who occasionally has nose
      bleeds at times of severe dust coverage emanating from Cooroy Mountain Road. Does Noosa
      Council confirm that there are health impacts from road dust?

      RESPONSE BY DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES SHAUN WALSH
      In terms of health risk exposure from dust on unsealed roads Council can advise:
       Unsealed roads in these regions typically carry low traffic volumes (30–500 vehicles/day).
       Dust exposure is intermittent, outdoor, and dispersed, significantly reducing concentration
          compared to enclosed occupational settings.
       A New Zealand Transport Agency study found that while PM₁₀ (particles with a diameter
          of 10 micrometres or less) dust from unsealed roads can be present, respirable silica
          levels were generally low and not linked to adverse health outcomes in ambient settings.
       National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluations of dirt road
          maintenance found no erionite and only occasional silica exceedances, primarily in active
          roadwork zones, not general public exposure.
       The Workplace Exposure Standard (WES) for Respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in
          Australia is 0.05 mg/m³ (8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA)). Ambient exposure from
          unsealed roads is not known to exceed this threshold in SE Queensland.
      Based on current material usage, maintenance practices, and environmental exposure
      conditions, there is minimal to no health risk from silica dust generated by unsealed gravel
      roads in the Noosa Council region. There is no confirmed evidence of harmful silica dust
      concentrations in these areas, and no recorded public health impacts attributable to road dust.
      The use of natural gravel and recycled asphalt, combined with routine grading and dust
      suppression, ensures compliance with engineering and environmental standards. Council
      has also sought further advice from Queensland Health about the topic but unfortunately had
      not received a reply by this meeting.