Contractors are pictured working at the site of the gas leak.
The luxury homes in the Malaghans Ridge section of the luxury golfing and lifestyle resort were emptied about 10.30am after fibre-optic cable installers cut into the pipe while digging a trench.
Millbrook director of operations Brian Howie said people staying in houses within 250m of the site were evacuated while firefighters and a team from GasCo shut off the valves leading into the area.
"There was a smell of gas."
The residents were allowed to return about an hour later.
Millbrook and the contractors responsible would carry out a full investigation, Mr Howie said.
Fire and Emergency southern shift communications manager Tim Reynolds said fire appliances from Arrowtown and Frankton responded to the incident.
Volunteer firefighters helped disperse the gas before handing over the scene to gas technicians, Mr Reynolds said.
