Damping down the dust for the benefit of field day exhibitors and patrons

Dust has always been the bane of exhibitors and visitors at Henty Machinery Field Days, but a new dust suppression product has been used successfully this year to limit this environmental hazard.

Gravel Lock Australia applied Road Dust Control (RDC), a natural Australian made dust control solution to Main Road, from the western entry gate to the HMFD office, around the central area at The Stump and around the bar. 

Gravel Lock Australia managing director James Davis inspected the site a fortnight before the event to evaluate the surface material.

“The surface was loose, uncompacted, dusty and dry – all of that combined with a bit of wind gives a lot of environmental problems for machinery and pedestrian traffic,” Mr Davis said. 

RDC is a modified magnesium chloride brine that includes proprietary additives and corrosion inhibitors, offering a powerful yet environmentally friendly dust control solution.

RDC is ideal for rural roads, haul roads, mining applications, commercial hard stand yards and construction sites.

The Australian made product is naturally derived from seawater and provides instant long lasting dust suppression. It achieves this by drawing moisture from the atmosphere to keep the road surface damp and compacted. 

The product is designed to bind fine particles to the road. A key feature of RDC is it reduces dust while improving the road’s strength, especially during dry conditions. 

It is non-corrosive, safe for the environment and significantly reduces the need for frequent watering. By stabilising the road surface, RDC can save up to 60 per cent of aggregate material.

With a standard application rate of 2 litres per square metre and an occasional rejuvenation rate of 1 litre per square meter, RDC ensures minimal maintenance and long-term cost savings. 

“The application process is easy and can be completed with standard water truck or spray units and will deliver immediate results maintaining road integrity and minimal intervention,” Mr Davis said. 

“Local councils, industries and communities benefit from improved road surfaces, reduced dust and a healthier environment.” 

Mr Davis said the roads at the Henty site were in great shape and once the dust issue was solved, maintenance was important.

“We did the main thoroughfare leading to the office and around the food court – it had a light treatment of 1 litre per square metre. The road to the bar and the crossroads 50m either side of the bar were treated.

“We observed in those areas people were quite comfortable when the wind picked up on the first day of the field days and the dust was suppressed.

“The main road was treated with 2 litres per square metre to the GrainCorp site and 3 litres per square metre from then on to cope with the heavier traffic. 

“Once the product is down for three months, the more traffic it gets the better it is compacted with optimal moisture content. It pulls in moisture from the atmosphere overnight to keep the pavement wet. 

“Any rain will sheet away into the gutter. The product will dissipate over time with rain and the residual can be topped up and reactivated the following year.”

Gravel Lock Australia applied almost 400,000 litres to roads in the Victorian grain belt last year.

In the past at one site, 50,000 litres of water had been used for dust suppression each day or 350,000 litres per week. 

“The RDC saved 3.5 million litres of water over a 10-week period, reduced the need for a water cart and the labour component was off doing something more productive,” Mr Davies said.

“At treated grain receival sites, around sampling stands and offices, staff aren’t breathing in dust, or their cars dirtied from splashing from the water cart.”