Responding to comments in the Otago Daily Times yesterday, quoting Dr Smith as saying village residents, in particular, were demonstrating ''nimbyism'' in their vehement opposition to Special Housing Areas around the town, Arrowtown ward councillor Scott Stevens said it was clear Dr Smith and the National Party were ''obviously under a lot of political pressure''.
Dr Smith told the ODT he had read ''some of the protest and concern'' which had come from Arrowtown residents in respect of proposed Special Housing Areas and said it sounded ''horribly like they would only prefer there were millionaires in their neighbourhood''.
However, Mr Stevens said it appeared Dr Smith hadn't looked closely at the expressions of interest received from developers and why they were rejected by the council.
''It's nothing to do with nimbyism [but] it's got everything to do with the appropriateness of development in particular places all over the district.
''I don't think it's fair [to call Arrowtown residents nimbys] because that's not the attitude out there. He's trying to pick a fight, and he's not going to get one.''
Mr Stevens, sworn in as a councillor last month after a by-election for the town's seat, also responded to recent comments by Cr Cath Gilmore that Arrowtown needed to ''accept responsibility for its share of the growth'' in the district.
Arrowtown had been one of the fastest-growing townships in New Zealand over the past 20 years - its population had tripled and the roll at Arrowtown School had quadrupled, which was the biggest growth in the district, and possibly in the country, he said.
''A lot of existing [development] in Arrowtown now, 15, 20, 30 years ago was nothing more than a paddock, so it's completely feasible Arrowtown's boundaries will move again, but at this point they are where they are and there is still plenty of room for Arrowtown to continue to grow in a sustainable manner within the urban boundaries in 2015, 16 and 17.''
He said while it was ''completely feasible'' at some point the Brackens Ridge and Arrowtown South developments might proceed, given the Environment Court decision excluding that land from the boundaries ''it would have been wrong for the council to fast-track a back-door proposal which is completely in breach of that''.
''Council asked for expressions of interest, we approved some, we didn't approve others.
''Nick Smith can throw as many stones as he likes. If he wants to pick a fight with Arrowtown, he'll struggle to get a rise out of me. We are trying to do our best for the district, and Arrowtown is part of that district.''
Acting Arrowtown Village Association chairman Wayne Hulls declined to comment last night.
