Workers in the area complained to ORC staff on Monday, after clouds of dust coming from the Otago Regional Council's waterfront building site during high winds coated about 20 vehicles in Birch St.
Workers spoken to by the Otago Daily Times said the dust, which contained lime, was acidic and had etched the paintwork on their vehicles.
Yesterday, ORC director of resource management Selva Selvarajah said the Hall Bros Ltd contractors crushing concrete on the site had failed to use "a common-sense approach".
"A large amount of dust means one has got to use a common-sense approach. If windy conditions are really significant, then it's a matter of stopping work."
An ORC report into the incident was complete, and an infringement notice - involving a $1000 fine - was to be hand-delivered to Hall Bros staff, Dr Selvarajah confirmed.
The company would also be ordered to pay $400 in costs, to cover ORC staff time, and should consider cleaning the vehicles - if possible - or paying for a professional service, Dr Selvarajah said.
"As a goodwill gesture, they have got to assist the people that have been affected by the dust."
Workers told the ODT the dust had been accumulating on their vehicles throughout Monday, but was not noticed until late in the day, when businesses in the street began to close.
By then it was too late, as the dust had settled and solidified on their vehicles.
Some had attempted to clean their cars with a hose, without success, as a speckling of the paintwork remained, Keith Elliott, of metalwork company Precision Profile, said.
He was quoted $150 for a professional clean, buff and polish of the 2006 Holden Commodore he bought for $24,000 six months ago.
"Basically, I would like my car cleaned," he told the ODT.
Hall Bros owner Doug Hall could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Mr Elliott said when contacted he was still waiting to hear some good news, after trying unsuccessfully to clean his car again during Tuesday's thunderstorm.
