By yesterday morning, Mr Rushworth had received 186 submissions, and more were expected to arrive before the submission period ended at 5pm today.
"That's definitely a good number - I think it's helpful that we've got a good sample of comment coming back in from the community. It's not just a little snapshot."
Mr Rushworth said analysis had not been completed yet, but generally the feedback showed a large variation in attitudes towards extending Arrowtown's growth boundary.
"People have been picking up on things like the special character of Arrowtown, the village atmosphere, [and] the historic context of the place.
"It's not anything new, but obviously it's something that people recognise and value.
"They certainly want to maintain their town's identity and not become something like Queenstown, which is often a comparison that's made [in the submissions]."
Mr Rushworth said there was a range of attitudes regarding proposed growth in the town.
"Quite a few people would like to see things kept pretty much the same as they are. Others are indicating it could go beyond [the boundary].
"Generally speaking . . . [submissions] certainly reflect that the golf course can provide some of the buffer, or define the outer edge of where the development could go.
"We'll do some analysis and get a proper understanding from that."
It was expected the results of the submissions would be compiled and analysed for presentation to the QLDC strategy committee next month.
The next step was to formulate an official proposal for the boundary shift.
"There have been some ideas floating around . . . but they aren't necessarily the only options or the preferred options.
"We'll distil all of this information down with some of the other information we have, for example growth projections, and come back with a proposal for the boundary and then put that together as part of a proposed plan change."
Mr Rushworth was hopeful that could be ready for council approval by May, at which stage the proposed plan change - clearly identifying all the options and the council's preferred option - would be formally notified for the public to submit on again.
"The key thing, really, in terms of community engagement, is we're trying to make sure we take the community with us as we go through this.
"Hopefully, they're aware of what's going on and it's not going to be a shot out of the blue for anyone."
Mr Rushworth said if feedback on the discussion document was anything to go by, the community was fully informed of the process.
"For a discussion document with a plan change, this is a high level of response we're getting."
