Wanaka ratepayer and resource management advocate Andre Prassinos says he is focusing on the imminent birth of his child rather than dwelling on failed real estate investments and a "provincial spat" with neighbours.
A mortgagee auction yesterday of Mr Prassinos's 40ha rural property near Mt Barker by Bayleys Real Estate attracted up to 100 people but the land was passed in after only three people made bids.
The property was rateably valued at $1.62 million and the highest bid of $870,000 did not met the undisclosed reserve price.
The mortgagee, the Southland Building Society, has also instructed Bayleys Real Estate to auction four Cardrona sections in Wanaka next Friday.
The sections are owned by the Prassinos.
Many of Wanaka's real estate agents were at yesterday's auction, as well as many Mt Barker landowners.
Mr Prassinos was not present but told the Otago Daily Times in a telephone interview he would "rather pour oil than flaming gasoline on the waters".
Mr Prassinos lobbied on resource management and local government issues in the Upper Clutha district for many years and his outspokenness at times irked council officials and neighbours.
He and his wife Heather Hughes now live in Canterbury.
His activities included opposing developments in Wanaka's town centre and at the Snow Farm, lobbying successfully for the removal of the Cardrona bra fence, attempting unsuccessfully to obtain consent for a large organic lettuce and herb production facility, appealing to the Ombudsman on various issues and highlighting the issue of historic land titles through the act of fencing off abandoned sections near Cardrona village.
The "saga" of his activities had been well rehearsed, Mr Prassinos said.
"Amen. At least I can look at my face in the mirror with a clear conscience. Perhaps later the fact that I fought to protect the lakefront from another Shooters (Bar) abomination and to halt the rape of the Pisa Range will be remembered along with the more sensational aspects of the story."
He had taken risks, had not foreseen the financial crisis and was paying the price for that.
His wife was seven and a-half months pregnant and anyone who thought real estate was more important than a child was not focusing on the right things, he added.
Bayleys auctioneer Mat Andrew said yesterday the mortgagee would now negotiate with parties interested in the Maxwell Rd block, with the highest bidder having first opportunity to present an offer.
Meanwhile, CRT Real Estate agent Patrick Bowden sold four of Mr Prassinos's Jacks Bay Catlins Coast sections in August.
Mr Bowden was also instructed to sell by the Southland Building Society.
The prices ranged between $85,000 and $95,000.
