Don't forget our roads: Action group

This is the level of dust raised on Pipiwai and Titoki roads many times a day. Photo/File

The chambers could be over-loaded if both anti and pro-Hundertwasser Arts Centre camps turn up to hear the Whangarei District Council's critical decision about the controversial proposal.

But the public gallery at tomorrow morning's meeting is likely to be swollen further by another group of residents who say the council should be spending ratepayers' money on ensuring the district is a healthy place to live.

It's not an issue likely to raise as many cheers, tears or fears as the Hundertwasser decision, but the Pipiwai Titoki Road Action Group hopes other supporters and rural residents whose homes and businesses are jeopardised by dust pollution will make their presence felt.

Ms Wright said the group, which held a protest road block at Pipiwai in April, will be carrying out a more disruptive road block if HAC gets the green light.

"Rural residents are being treated like second-class citizens although they pay taxes and rates," spokeswoman Alex Wright said.

Up to 100 logging trucks a day use a network of unsealed roads through Pipiwai and Titoki on a route agreed by WDC and transport companies to keep the heavy traffic off sealed roads as much as possible. Some Far North District roads are also affected.

Council staff have recommended in the 2014/15 draft plan that WDC finds $30,000 from existing operating budgets to continue 100 metre dust suppression applications on affected sites over the 2014-15 summer.

The recommendation says suppression strips outside some properties will provide some relief until Government subsidies for sealing have been secured.

But the Government has stopped subsidising any district roads to divert all spending to "roads of national significance", and has not indicated when it will revert to the former system.

The road-action group says someone has to take responsibility for the situation that forces rural people to live in a cloud of dangerously fine dust particles now laced with the powdered waste oil residue.