The Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association (APBA) has hit back at comments made by people opposing the building of affordable housing in Suffolk St, saying Arrowtown is a ''friendly and inclusive community''.
Deputy chairman Scott Julian told the Otago Daily Times that while the controversy had not yet been discussed by the association, members would be concerned if the negative comments, which captured national attention, damaged the town's image.
One person had commented to the Stuff website: ''We don't need white or black trash renting cheap housing in Arrowtown'' and another said there were plenty of affordable homes in Timaru ''so no need to live in Arrowtown''.
However, Mr Julian said: ''Certainly there would be a lot of people out here who would welcome this development if it was done in the right theme and taste.
''I don't think people would think it would bring the `wrong' sort of people to Arrowtown. I'm sure it will bring people who will contribute to the community.''
The association said in a statement it was keen the community housing development became a success now the decision to proceed had been made.
''Unfortunately, a few residents, anxious for various reasons, have opposed the development, stating opinions that do not represent a wide community viewpoint,'' the statement said.
''The APBA does not support any socially divisive reasons to oppose the development, and states this in the strongest possible terms.''
Arrowtown had a history of being an affordable small town back to its ''cribbie'' days and remained a friendly and inclusive community, the association said.
''We now face the peculiar difficulty of trying to protect the integrity of a historic village where managing growth pressure creates genuine issues in the property market.
''Matters of 'class' or 'wealth' deserve no part in such discussions, and the board rejects them.''
