Alan Deering
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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.
QUESTION 2
Overall, it seems that Noosa Council has a policy of not sealing dirt roads and if residents offer to seal sections at their expense, Council will make that impossible to achieve. Besides the sealing of the $5.6 million Dr Pages Road upgrade in 2016 that former Mayor Noel Playford called "a win for hinterland tourism' in Noosa Shire what dirt roads and to what length have been sealed since de-amalgamation?
RESPONSE BY DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES SHAUN WALSH
Council has undertaken the following road sealing programs:
- 2015/16 Dr Pages Rd and Kinmond Creek Rd Cootharaba – 5.6kms length
- 2018/19 Donnellys Rd Ridgewood – 800m length
- 2019/20 Tewah Rd, Boreen Point – 200m length
- 2019/20 Ambulance St, Pomona – 100m length
- 2021/22 Tablelands Rd, Cooran (bridge approaches) – 150m length
Council has recently asked for review of its road sealing priority program and consideration of a budget allocation for the 26/27 budget for its further consideration.
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What was said?
Named discussion on NoosaWatch TV
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Alan Deering22:47
Thank you, Mr. Collider. We have four submissions for public question time. The first is an application from Mr. Alan Deering. Alan, would you like to come to the lectern, please? Thank you. Yes, good afternoon uh just it's a background question I'll keep it brief to 150 words because Council has changed it from 300 words to 150. Now, the response to my public question of the 18th of September this year concentrated on silica dust and the workplace exposure standard. Which residential homes on dirt roads. Not workplaces, should not be compared. Workplaces have exhausts and filters to deal with dust and the standard is eight hours, five days a week. Residents don't have the luxury of exhausts and filters for the standard. For some residents would be 24 hours, seven days a week. Silica is not the only ingredient of road that can cause health issues. It may also contain aluminium, calcium, iron, titanium, and magnesium. Let's stay as stated in the response. In terms of health risk, Council has undertaken a technical assessment of the potential health risks associated with silica dust generated from unsealed roads within the Noosa Council region. If the ratepayers have paid for a technical assessment, it should be released to ratepayers. Now, the question. In answer to my public question of the 18th of September this year, 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 concentration. Silica dust in these areas. And no recorded public health impacts are predictable. To road dust. As a 40 year property owner on Cooroy Mountain Rd. I have concerns about the health effects of long time exposure. Find vertical road dust for myself and especially on my partner who occasionally has nosebleeds at times of severe dust coverage emanating from Cooroy Mountain Rd. Does Noosa Council confirm that there are no health impacts. From road dust. Thank you Alan. Your questions will be answered by Shaun Walsh, Director Infrastructure Services.
Alan Deering27:16
To the question. The dirt section of Cooroy Mountain road has been assessed by a qualified road engineer and then the report found deficiencies and clear risk of crashes and other safety hazards. There has not been an assessment released by Noosa Council on the same section of road. Therefore not disputing the dangerous assessment of this section of road. Brigham road is a through road that's sealed to 65% of its length at the western end. The last sealing was 26 years ago and the eastern end carries more traffic. Ratepayers have offered to seal sections of the road to the width of 7 metres. But Council refused stating that under the Noosa Plan it must be to the width of 9 metres. In the 10-year capital program 25 to 34, under sealing of unsealed roads, there is no money budgeted for the sealing of dirt roads until 2032. That being 1.5 million. The question is, overall it seems that Noosa Council has a policy of not sealing dirt roads, and if residents offer to seal sections at their expense, Council will make that impossible. To achieve. Besides the sealing of the $5.6 million Dr Pages Road upgrade in 2016, the former man old play would call a win for hinterland tourism, in Noosa Shire, what dirt roads in twilight hinterland lengths. Tourism have been sealed since the amalgamation?
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