Council's division of technical services presented a detailed report on the maintenance of Wombeyan Caves Road to council in response to residents' claims that the road was under-funded and that bauxite dust was endangering road users' health.

A review of health literature found that raw bauxite dust was no worse than dust from other materials used in road construction.

Health problems related to bauxite tended to be associated with processed material used in alumina at aluminium smelters, the report found.

While dust from unsealed roads could cause lung irritation in people susceptible to asthma and other conditions, prolonged exposure at high levels, such as industrial conditions, was required to produce significant health problems.

"While acknowledging residents' concerns regarding the bauxite surface, it must be recognised that the material does provide a satisfactory road surface for an unsealed road," said the report.

"Many of the concerns raised by residents relate to aesthetic issues, made more noticeable due to the colour of the material. While undesirable, these are not a reason to abandon further use of the material."

In response to complaints about funding of Wombeyan Caves Road, council noted that over the last four years, an average $220,000 from council's Regional Roads Block Grant was spent on the unsealed section of the road.