Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton says the whole community is behind Oceana Gold's Macraes gold mine and its functions.
Mr Familton said buoyancy in gold in the past year had given Oceana Gold a much firmer economic base.
"We are pleased with that, because we feel the mine has been a boost to our community, economically, and we see them now in a much stronger position to complete their mining up there," he said.
Long-time East Otago resident Christine Chisholm, of Nidd Realty Ltd, said the mine had made a huge difference to the local housing market.
House prices had been maintained, a result she attributed to the mining employment, and rental accommodation was quickly being snapped up.
Mrs Chisholm, who has lived in the area for 40 years, was impressed with how the mine workers supported each other.
The mine had also brought a lot of young people into the community.
Pioneer Motel owners Annette Rosanowski and Fred Ratahi get accommodation bookings directly from Oceana Gold, plus get indirect work from the mine through sub-contractors.
While their business was not dependent on the mine, they liked to work in with the mining company and the associated contractors, Mrs Rosanowski said.
"We may go for a period of time when things are quiet and we won't have anybody in from the mine, then all of a sudden we'll be full."
The couple, who have three children, moved to Palmerston from the West Coast in 2002, when Mr Ratahi obtained work at the mine, and they have owned the motel since September 2006.
Both their families have mining ties.
Most of the workers from the mine who lived in the area tried to mix in the community and enjoyed living in East Otago.
As well as boosting the rolls at local schools, the economic benefits to Palmerston, and also Waikouaiti, were substantial, Mrs Rosanowski said.
Rick Haaima, from the Palmerston Four Square Supermarket, said the mine had a large and very positive impact on his business.
Mr Haaima, who is also a member of the Waihemo Community Board, said Palmerston was a lot more upbeat and positive than when he arrived seven years ago.
Communities needed numbers "and we've got them".
Without the mine and houses full, and the town looking busy, it would be hard to get it looking as good.
What would happen when the mine's life ended "does play on your mind", but he expected it would still be a viable town, through farming and forestry.
Waihemo Lodge lessee Melinda Cohen said probably about 40% of the lodge's accommodation was associated with the mine.
It was definitely very positive for her business, although it made it very unpredictable - "You can't judge what night you're going to be busy" - because it depended on what was happening with the mine.
Workers also patronised the bar.
The local Presbyterian church minister, Rev Bobby Kusilifu, has seen numbers in his congregation boosted by the arrival of workers from overseas.
Mine workers from Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Africa and Sri Lanka have added a different and welcome dimension to the church.
Not only was it a boost in numbers but it was also an opportunity to learn about the different cultures, he said.
Kelly Cameron, from the Palmerston Preschool and Nursery, said while it did care for a lot of children whose parents worked at the mine, she did not rely on it.
That, she attributed to the shift-work and the fact that a lot of mothers - whose partners worked at the mine - were at home, so it had not had a big impact.
However, the child care facility did provide time out for mothers, especially when partners were sleeping after night-shift.
Waihemo Community Board chairman Rod Philip said the effects had been positive on the local economy.
