Dog exercise areas
There are many places in the Ashburton district where you can exercise your dog. Dogs can exercise on Council owned reserves unless specified otherwise.
There are specifically designated areas where dogs can exercise off the leash. However, they must be under the direct control of their owners. This means your dog must respond to your commands at all times.
These areas are:
Ashburton Dog Exercise Park by Ashburton River (North end of bridge accessible via the end of William Street)
Pioneer Park
Digby Park
Patching Street Reserve (excluding children's play area)
Devon Park (excluding children's play area)
Methven Dog Park
Devon Park (excluding children's play area)
Smallbone Drive Reserve
George Glassey Park (excluding children's play area)
"The Green" - in Tinwald adjacent to the main south railway line South of the Ashburton River Bridge
Argyle Park is a Sportsground, View the dog exercise areas within Argyle Park where you can exercise your dog off lead only.
Range Street (old landfill) exercise area
This area is still managed as a closed landfill. The maintenance of the area follows the requirements of the Resource Consent for the Post Closure Management of the Old Landfill.
Found at the end of Range Street, next to the Ashburton Resource Recovery Park.
The area is not a dedicated dog park. Access is only available when conditions are suitable.
The old landfill is covered and capped with clay to protect the underlying material from the effects of weathering and the potential for surface water to percolate its way through the old landfill and make its way into the ground beneath.
Dogs are allowed to use the area because it helps deter rabbits from becoming established on the clay cap. Left uncontrolled rabbits can cause significant damage to a capped landfill.
Activity on the area is kept to a minimum, thus undertaking periodic maintenance as required. The area is kept in grass so woody plants, shrubs, and trees do not become established and their roots likewise cause damage to the clay cap.
Dog owners are welcome to use the area and are advised to be self-contained in their provision of dog welfare whilst onsite.
Respect and enjoy our dog exercise areas
Be a responsible dog owner in dog exercise areas:
Do not allow your dog to attack or annoy other dogs and people
All dogs need to be able to understand and appropriately respond to simple commands if they are to be in the off-leash exercise area
Always collect and hygienically dispose/remove of your dog's fouling
Female dogs in season are not allowed in public places
Dogs are prohibited from all Council children's playgrounds
Bags and dispensers
Poop bags dispensers are located at all district exercise areas. If your dog fouls in a public place or on someone else's property, you are required to remove and dispose of it in a way that is suitably wrapped to prevent fouling of any public litter bin.
Owners that fail to do this are liable to receive a $300 infringement under Council's Dog Control Bylaw.
Where dogs are prohibited
In some areas, dogs are strictly prohibited. These areas are:
These areas are listed under the Dog Control Bylaw.