Councillors discussing 2023-24 annual plan budgets yesterday agreed a 50:50 split between the council and homeowners applying for dust suppression was the best way to deal with rising costs of the work.
The planned shift in policy away from the council fully funding the work affects more than 260 homes.
Those homeowners who remain on a dust-suppression register would collectively pay $270,000 of the yearly cost and the council would match this.
Councillors are working through budgets this week before they approve the draft annual plan for public consultation.
The council is to phase in Otta sealing, which involves application of sprayed bitumen-emulsion and spread crushed aggregate, and phase out use of "bio-oils".
Otta sealing has a higher upfront cost, but the technique lasts longer and is more effective.
The council stopped using recycled motor oil for suppressing dust in 2020 and the Otago Regional Council subsequently prohibited the practice.
Bio-oils, such as animal fat and vegetable oil, proved to be less effective and more expensive than waste motor oil.
The council paying $270,000 of the annual cost of suppressing dust is an extension of its previous budget of $110,000.
Cr Lee Vandervis said introducing Otta seal progressively was the right approach and the cost of benefits from suppressing dust needed to be shared.
Cr Mandy Mayhem wondered how the council would determine who would first get Otta sealing.
"Is it the squeaky wheel gets the seal?"
Cr Jim O’Malley noted the council had in recent years moved away from tarsealing more of its network.
