Ashburton District residents are being asked to have their say on proposed biodiversity and health & safety enhancements to parts of the Ashton Beach area south of the Ashburton River mouth, with feedback now welcome until Friday 7 February.

The Council is proposing to fence either part of, or the whole donga (a steep-sided gully) area which is at the end of Ocean View Road due to health and safety risks posed to motorbike riders who use the donga, as well as to protect the significant indigenous vegetation and endangered bird species the area supports.

Council Service Delivery Group Manager, Neil McCann says the Council is 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.

"We are accepting feedback until 5pm, Friday 7 February via a short online survey, so if you'd like to share your thoughts on the proposals, please have your say."

Two options for the area are proposed: the first is to fence the entire donga and introduce a protected area for biodiversity when replacing an existing fence, and the second option is to fence the riskiest part of the donga area and introduce a smaller protected area for biodiversity while also replacing an existing fence.