Mid Canterbury residents will be able to start visiting the EA Networks Centre, Ashburton Public Library, Ashburton Museum, Council office and Ashburton Resource Recovery Park Reuse Shop from tomorrow (14 May), as the facilities reopen under Alert Level Two.

Several Council services and facilities will resume operation under the revised alert level, with safety measures in place to ensure residents and staff are practicing physical distancing, personal hygiene and contact tracing.

From tomorrow, dog owners will be allowed to run their pets off leash in designated dog exercise areas again, but must ensure they are under their owner's control at all times. Animal Control Officers will be out patrolling more frequently to ensure the publics' safety.

Parking wardens will also resume patrols of the Ashburton CBD from Monday 18 May to ensure traffic is kept moving so that residents are better able to patronise local businesses as they begin reopening.

Council Chief Executive Hamish Riach says the Council is pleased to begin safely welcoming residents back to their local facilities after almost two months in lockdown.

"The shift down to Alert Level Two is excellent progress and shows how hard everyone has worked to slow the spread of COVID-19. We are excited that the move allows for some of our services and programmes to resume, however others will unfortunately be unable to restart just yet.

"We ask that all visitors please comply with our safety measures. It will mean things are a little bit different than usual, but we will be doing our absolute best to make these services available without compromising your wellbeing."

The EA Networks Centre gym as well as the main, hydro, learners and leisure swimming pools in the aquatic centre will be open at 5.45am on 14 May. The stadium will remain closed until contact tracing plans are finalised, and the spa and steam room in the aquatic area will remain closed for the time being.

Gym members will be required to bring a towel to workout. Gym equipment will be more separated, there will be reduced numbers allowed in classes and the drinking fountains will not be available.

Aquacise classes will resume with a new booking system, however the Learn to Swim programme will not resume as yet, but the Council is working to have this available soon. Physical distancing rules will be in place in the swimming pools.

The wheelie bin and crate collection service will continue as usual, with residents needing to correctly sort their rubbish, recycling and glass into the corresponding bins.

The Ashburton Resource Recovery Park will continue to operate through gate two to allow all visitors to register for contact tracing and limit too much movement around the facility. Recycling, rubbish and green waste will be accepted across the weighbridge, and only eftpos payments will be accepted.

The Reuse shop will reopen under Alert Level Two.

The Council is continuing to work through plans for reopening community halls and camping grounds. Details about these facilities will be provided when more is known.