However, the early childhood centre planned for the proposed 215 house development was welcomed by some young families.
George and Sandra Page and adult son Brad said they had owned the 15ha Arrow Bounds deer farm for 22 years and had 200 deer.
A third of their property borders the proposed subdivision, which is the subject of private plan change 39 being considered by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Mrs Page said she was concerned existing problems of noise and dogs menacing her livestock would worsen if Arrowtown South was approved.
Dogs barked at deer and tried to get through fences on McDonnell Rd, with some owners doing nothing to stop them.
"It would be the end of the deer - it would be too difficult. It's not fair on the animals.
"[Arrowtown South developers] said they'd have some sort of restrictions and laws, but they are probably in place now and don't make a difference," she said.
Brad Page said the family as an affected party would make a public submission "to achieve practical solutions for both parties" once the council process began.
"You're never opposed to development if it does justice to the area and its location," he said.
"The problem is the district has enough history of bad development to make us apprehensive."
Senior Cotter Ave residents Pat and Ian Henderson said their home would look over the development.
They had not made up their minds about the project, Mr Henderson said.
"It looks quite reasonable, what's going on at the moment."
Mrs Henderson said she was pleased the historic cottage and wetlands on the property would be kept within Arrowtown South.
"If it's sensitively and sensibly done it's going to be an asset."
Film technician Peter Hornbuckle said he had lived in Arrowtown for 10 years and he would consider relocating his family to the estate.
The child-care centre was of interest to him as he had a 13-month-old daughter and existing pre-school facilities were stretched, he said.
"I think it's brilliant. They've got together and shown a bit of planning and foresight. There seems to be a transparency we've grown unaccustomed to.
"The only drawback is the length of time it will take to complete."
Arrowtown farmer Roger Monk is the major landowner within Arrowtown South and talked to the residents during the open day, along with planners John Edmonds and Sonya Heenan, ecologist Dawn Palmer and landscape architect Paddy Baxter.
The developers had received an expression of interest from a child-care centre operator and the Arrowtown South centre would likely be housed in the existing 142-year-old Muter Cottage, Mr Monk said.
The number of children catered for would depend on the operator.
When asked about the Pages' concerns about dogs, Mr Edmonds said there were no specific means to control dogs in the zone and the family already lived very close to the urban boundary.
"Everybody has the responsibility to manage animals under their control and I don't think the zone would create a significant increase in risk to their livestock."
Mr Baxter said the subdivision's 17 neighbourhoods would echo Arrowtown's historical elements, such as grass swales and wide avenues, and would be similar in design to Quail Rise Estate and under strict controls.
When asked for his response to criticisms from some residents there were no guarantees the proposed facilities, including the child-care centre and village store, would be built, Mr Monk said he was not about to walk away from the project.
Council mechanisms ensured the facilities would be included as planned.
"What we say is going to happen is going to happen."
