The Otago Regional Council (ORC) has announced that suppressing dust on gravel roads with used oil will no longer be permitted in Otago.

The use of waste engine oil on gravel roads to suppress dust during summer has been a contentious issue in the region.

ORC policy and science general manager Anita Dawe said the reason behind the changes was to strengthen the ORC’s regional planning framework in the interim period while its new Land and Water Regional Plan is developed.   

“The dust suppressant changes included prohibiting the use of waste oil, changing the permitted activity rule to bring it in line with other regional councils, and amending the discretionary activity rule,” she said.

The new planning framework is required to be notified by December next year.

PHOTO: Supplied