Other Domains
In the Ashburton District there are currently 15 reserves, which are managed by Reserve Boards.
Reserve Boards play a crucial role in the stewardship and management of reserves, ensuring their day-to-day care, maintenance, and improvement for the benefit of the community.
Reserve Boards are operating as subcommittees of the Council and have been delegated certain powers, with Council remaining the administering body of those reserves under the Reserves Act.
This reserve is managed by the Alford Forest Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Alford Forest Domain sits just off the intersection of Alford Forest Settlement Road, Forks Road and Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road (Inland Scenic Route 72). It features tennis courts, picnic area, Alford Forest Hall, Alford Forest Fire Station, a public toilet (maintained by Ashburton District Council), and a large area of open grassed space. The Alford Forest Moa sculptures, interpretational signage and a commemorative plaque to commemorate the Foothills 125 year jubilee are also located here.
Location: 4941 Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road, Alford Forest
Whilst not in scope of this plan, the Alford Forest Domain Board, is also the caretaker of the Singletree Site, located approximately 800m to the east of the Domain, on Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road.
This reserve is managed by the Chertsey Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Chertsey Domain is situated between Wilkinsons and Doigs Roads on the western side of SH 1 / Rakaia Highway. The Domain is dominated by trotting and greyhound racing tracks, with limited additional recreational facilities currently provided for the public and no obvious access for the public. Three disused tennis courts are in the centre of the Domain. An area in the west of the reserve is covered in plantation forestry.
Chertsey Domain is made up of one land parcels, which is held as a classified Recreation Reserve under the Reserves Act 1977.
Location: 5 Doigs Road, Chertsey
This reserve is managed by the Dorie Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council
Dorie Domain is located on the corner of Mainwarings Road and McCrorys Road, adjacent to Ardamine Hall, which is on a separate piece of land.
Dorie Domain includes two tennis courts and a volley wall, as well as two large areas of green space, which are used for cropping and grazing.
Income generated from farming goes towards the upkeep of the reserve.
Location: 1356 Mainwarings Road, Dorie
This reserve is managed by the Ealing Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Ealing Domain is located at the corner of Ealing Road and State Highway 1 Rangitata Highway, close to the western boundary of the district. It is surrounded by a shelter belt on all sides.
Location: 34 Ealing Road, Ealing
This reserve is managed by the Greenstreet Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
The Domain is located on Ashburton Staveley Road, close to the intersection with Driscolls Road, to the north west of Greenstreet. There is no public signage identifying Greenstreet Domain as a reserve.
Greenstreet and Ashburton Forks Hall, which the former Greenstreet and Ashburton Forks school building, is located in the reserve. Adjacent to the hall is a small playground and tennis courts.
Location: 749 Ashburton Staveley Road, Greenstreet
This reserve is managed by the Highbank Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
The Highbank Domain is located on the corner of Highbank Cairnbrae and Highbank School Roads, approximately 10km to the east of Methven.
The developed part of Highbank Domain features two full sized tennis courts, a small tennis pavilion, a basketball halfcourt, a seating area and mature trees. Much of the Domain is undeveloped and either grazed or cropped.
Location: 166 Highbank Cairnbrae Road, Highbank
This reserve is managed by the Hinds Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Hinds Domain is centrally located in the village of Hinds, at the corner Isleworth Road and State Highway 1/ Peters Street.
The Domain features extensive facilities for active sports and recreation facilities, including sport fields and changing rooms, bowling greens, an outdoor pool, a rifle range, as well as public toilet facilities. The standalone public toilet facility in the Domain is maintained by Ashburton District Council.
A playground is located in the northern part of the reserve, adjacent to Peters Street.
The reserve is also home to the Hinds Fire Station, which is located on Isleworth Road, to the south of the bowling green. The reserve features a large limestone sculpture, visible from State Highway 1/ Peters Street, which was erected as part of the millennium celebrations. It depicts a family and animals on either side.
Location: 3 Isleworth Road, Hinds
This reserve is managed by the Mayfield Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Mayfield Domain is located the north east of Mayfield on Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road (Inland Scenic Route 72). The Mayfield A&P showgrounds adjoin the Domain to the west and south. The generally flat Domain features some mature plantings, but is largely open grass.
Much of the Domain is used for sport and active recreation. It features tennis/netball courts, a swimming pool, rugby and touch rugby fields and a rifle range. Other community uses include the Mayfield Playcentre.
A small playground, largely designed for preschool-aged children is located adjacent to the playcentre.
The toilet block in the reserve was replaced in 2023 and is maintained by Ashburton District Council. Income generated through different activities such as self-contained camping (in the area adjacent to the toilet block) is used to assist with the maintenance of the reserve.
Location: 2016 Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road, Mayfield
This reserve is managed by the Methven Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Methven Domain is located in the north-east of Methven, on the edge of Methven township, approximately 300m from the town centre. It is bordered by Kilworth Street to the north and Mackie Street in the west.
Methven Domain is a significant open space and sport and recreation facility for Methven and the wider Ashburton District due to its scale and the variety of activities it caters for.
It is home to a range of clubs and societies and has sports fields for rugby, touch rugby, football, cricket oval and nets, indoor squash
courts, multi-use courts for tennis, netball, as well as bowling and croquet greens.
It also features a small playground and some areas for passive recreation. Club buildings are spaced out across the Domain, but predominantly along Methven Chertsey Road.
Location: Methven Chertsey Road, Methven
The stand-alone public toilet facility in the Domain is maintained by Ashburton District Council.
The Domain is largely flat and grassed. Existing vegetation is mostly exotic, with substantial hedges and windbreaks along the eastern,
northern and western boundaries. None of the trees in the reserve are scheduled as protected trees under Section 12 of the Operative Ashburton District Plan.
The Domain regularly hosts events.
This reserve is managed by the Mount Somers Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
The Domain area on Hood Roads provides for active sport and recreation and other community based activities. It features sportsfields and club rooms for rugby, a community swimming pool, netball and tennis courts, a rifle range and indoor bowls. The Mount Somers Memorial Hall, Mount Somers Domain Camping Ground and Mount Somers Museum are located here. The historic dental building from Mount Somers School has recently been moved to the site, with the view to expand the museum.
A playground is located adjacent to the museum buildings to the south of the rugby fields.
Location: Hoods Road, Mount Somers
This reserve is managed by the Pendarves Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Pendarves Domain is located at the corner of Chertsey Kyle and Christys Roads, just across from the historic Pendarves Hall.
The majority of the reserve is available for recreation. It features tennis courts, a volley wall and open grassed areas, with some hedging surrounding the tennis courts and the southern boundary of the Domain.
The reserve is also home to the local rural fire station which was given anew tanker shed in December 2003. This was later expanded with better facilities.
A community recycling centre is located in the reserve, just south east of the fire station.
Location: 1032 Chertsey Kyle Road, Pendarves
This reserve is managed by the Rakaia Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Rakaia Domain is situated in the north-west of the township of Rakaia. The Domain is comprised of three separate areas.
The main part of the Domain is located on the northern side of Rakaia Barrhill Methven Road and south of Normanby Road. It is 19.8296 hectares in size and generally of flat topography.
A large forestry plantation of 40.8732 hectares is located on the northern side of Normanby Road.
This area is vegetated in pine plantings and the 3.2km long Rakaia River Terrace Walkway traverses through this. Just north of the pine plantation is the Rakaia River, an Outstanding Natural Landscape.
Location: 24 Rakaia Barrhill Methven Road, Rakaia & Michael Street
This reserve is managed by the Ruapuna Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Ruapuna Domain is located on the corner of Ross Road and Ruapuna School Road, south-east of Ruapuna.
The Domain features tennis courts, a community swimming pool and an open grassed area. The Domain also features a building, which can be hired for events. A number of trees were planted at the entrance to the Domain on Ross Road to commemorate the 75th and 100th anniversary, as well as the closure of Ruapuna School.
A tree and stone monument with a plaque at the entrance to the Domain commemorates James and Mary Ann McLauchlan, Pioneers of the Ashburton District.
Location: 4 George Ross Road, Ruapuna
This reserve is managed by the Seafield Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
Seafield Domain is situated to the east of Seafield Road to the southeast of Seafield. It includes the Seafield Hall and a large open grassed area, surrounded by large hedges. The Seafield Rifle Range is located partially in the reserve.
The hall has served as a place for meetings and functions for decades. Memorials to the eleven Seafield men who served in World War I, and to the twelve district men who went to World War II are located in the hall.
Location: 1673 Seafield Road, Pendarves
This reserve is managed by the Tinwald Reserve Board and administered by Ashburton District Council.
The Tinwald Domain is a hidden treasure located northwest of Tinwald off State Highway 1.
The reserve is approximately 98.38ha in size. It is divided into two sections by Frasers Road. The larger southern part, has its southern boundary along Maronan Road and includes the main part of the Domain, including the Plains Historic Village, ponds and picnic areas, the camp ground and various community organisations. A remaining section of the Mt Somers-Tinwald railway line separates this part of the reserve from the golf club.
The smaller northern part of the Domain is situated on the north side of Lagmhor Road, bordering a residential area on George Street. This area is largely used by the Tinwald Pony Club.
Location: 62 Maronan Road, Tinwald