The increased cost of dust suppressant on rural roads will be a talking point for the Clutha District Council when it meets this week to make decisions on the 2016-17 annual plan.
The council will meet on Thursday to discuss verbal and written submissions from the public on the annual plan made in the past month.
Information released to the Otago Daily Times shows 85 out of 127 respondents made submissions in relation to the cost of dust suppressant on rural roads.
In the past, the council has shared the cost of applying short-term suppression for about 180 applicants who live within 100m of an unsealed road.
However, the cost of this was expected to rise in the future and residents were asked whether the council should continue to share the cost but charge applicants more.
Respondents also made submissions on whether the council should find a semi-permanent solution for dust, stop dust suppression altogether or if applicants wanted to organise a suppressant themselves at their own cost.
The council's preferred option is for a combination of two of the solutions whereby applicants are to organise the suppressant themselves while the council seeks a semi-permanent seal.
Council chief executive Steve Hill said what was being proposed provided flexibility for residents.
He said there would be an issue if the council had not considered all other options.
Twenty-six percent of respondents were in favour of the council's preferred combined options while 44% indicated they supported at least one of the two combined solutions.
Mr Hill said one surprising factor the council had not considered was the use of suppressant on non-sealed roads in urban environments.
"It's a slightly different issue than what we were proposing in terms of general dust suppression on roads.''
Les Mackenzie, of Clinton, spoke at the submissions hearing on May 5 and presented a petition from other Clinton residents.
The petition asked the council to consider suppressing the dust in urban environments at no extra cost to the ratepayer or residents.
Mr Mackenzie said dust was considered a health hazard under section 23 of the Health Act 1956 and the local government was obligated to ``abate the dust nuisance''.
Mr Hill said different proposals were being considered for urban areas from what was proposed for dust suppressant in rural environments.
Other issues to be considered by the council include the proposed charging station for electric vehicles in Balclutha, an increase on the income allocated to the South Otago Museum and a response to a proposal sent in from Kaitangata Promotions on a house and land package for the area.
