A walking track laid behind new homes in Christchurch for less than $10,000 has been found to contain asbestos and could cost $285,000 to fix up.

Christchurch City Council laid the 200m track parallel to Aston Drive at Waimairi Beach in May last year for $8420.

The soil was donated by a nearby resident, Blaise Chamberlain, whose home backs onto the path, but it was not tested before it was put on the ground, according to Stuff.

Another resident contacted council staff with test results showing the presence of asbestos.

Remediating asbestos-contaminated material is expensive and the council is working on an estimate of $285,000 to remove the soil, which could take three weeks, according to a spokesman.

It had yet to decide whether it would seek the cost of removal from Mr Chamberlain.

Waimairi Beach resident Mike Franklin, whose home backs on to the path, told Stuff he was angry when he found out the path had asbestos in it.

His children had regularly walked on the path since they moved to their new property in May.

Mr Franklin said the council should have tested the soil before using it to form the path.

"It was obviously demolition rubble," he said.

"There were bricks sticking out of it and sewer pipes."