Council is asking residents to have their say on two proposed plans for the area south of the Ashburton River mouth and say the work is about health and safety and improving biodiversity. Council owns the land.
People can see the consultation document at council or provide feedback online until February 7.
Motorbike riders have been long-standing users of the Ashton Beach area and council says it doesn’t want to stop the activity but ground conditions, especially close to the edges of the donga, were a serious concern. The area also had important biodiversity values, including indigenous vegetation and birdlife.
Council is now proposing to fence either parts of, or the whole donga area it owns at the end of Ocean View Road. It is worried about dangers posed to motorbike riders who use the donga, as well as protecting significant indigenous vegetation and endangered bird species the area supports.
Service delivery group manager Neil McCann said council was welcoming feedback from everyone, particularly people who use or are interested in the donga area.
"Recent ground assessments at Ashton Beach have highlighted some serious health and safety concerns, and as the owners, we are obligated to mitigate these risks. The area also has important biodiversity values that we want to protect and enhance, particularly the native vegetation and its close proximity to the Ashburton River mouth where there is an abundance of birdlife."
A community walkaround in the area is planned for February 1, at 1pm.
