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A newly elected Victorian city councilor was identified as one of two men who died after a helicopter crashed during a training flight in the NSW Southern Highlands on Wednesday night.
The helicopter took off from Goulburn Airport at around 3 p.m., but the Joint Rescue Coordination Center was alerted at around 6 p.m.. 45pm when it didn’t return to base.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority received tracking data for the missing helicopter and located a crash site around 8 p.m..
Two rescue helicopters were sent to the suspected crash site, but could not reach it due to bad weather.
On Wednesday evening, police set up a command post near Tallong at the entrance to the Long Point Hiking Trail on Long Point Road and rescue workers began searching rough bushland near the Shoalhaven River.
About two hours later, at noon. On Thursday at 25 o’clock in the morning, the rescue workers of the NSW police found the helicopter wreck and discovered the bodies of two people nearby.
The victims are a 36-year-old Goulburn helicopter instructor and Andrew Goldman, a 54-year-old Victorian learner pilot who was recently elected to Moira Shire Council.
Moira Shire’s newly elected councilor Andrew Goldman died in a helicopter crash in the southern highlands on Wednesday evening.
A joint statement from Moira Shire Mayor Libro Mustica and CEO Mark Henderson said the council was devastated when it learned of Goldman’s death.
« Cr Goldman was elected to the city council for the 2020-24 term and looked forward to contributing to the improvement and growth of our Shire, » the statement said.
« On behalf of council members and staff, we broaden our thoughts to include his family at this difficult time. He will be missed very much. «
In a bio on the council’s website, Cr Goldman said he lived in the Moira Shire for 48 years. He was elected to the council for the first time this year and only attended its first council meeting last week.
Cr Goldman said he had an excavation business in the area for the past 18 years.
« The expertise I have acquired can help the council build and plan future infrastructures and projects for the benefit of our community, » he said.
Cr Goldman added that he wanted to bring more business opportunities to cities in the parish.
« My vision is to provide affordable land and easy access for business development. I would like to encourage new businesses and businesses to thrive in the area, which will provide employment opportunities and economic growth for the people of Moira Shire. «
Cr Lawless said Cr Goldman is known across the region and is an active member of the community that sponsors local soccer and netball clubs.
« Andrew has made a huge impact on much of the community through his business. It was his commitment to the community that led him to stand up for the council. He’d considered it over time. I think it was just his generous mind. «
Police have worked all night to recover the bodies of the victims and the Australian Road Safety Bureau and NSW police are investigating the circumstances of the crash.
Detective Chief Inspector Brendan Bernie said it was « just too early to even hypothesize » how the crash happened.
« It’s in a pretty remote area. It took the police several hours last night to find the crash site as the crash site and site are removed, « he said.
« Due to bad weather last night, an air search was prevented and the Goulburn Rescue Squad police entered Morton National Park . . . on foot.
« It’s just a terrible time for the families involved, and we express our condolences to the families and friends of the pilots. «
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau announced that a team of road safety investigators with expertise in aircraft engineering, operations, maintenance and data analysis was dispatched to the crash site on Thursday.
The affected helicopter was a Robinson R44 model, the office said. The publication of a preliminary report will take several weeks.
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Benjamin is the regional editor for The Age. Previously, he was a reporter for State Rounds and has also covered education for The Age.
Helicopter, New South Wales, helicopter crash, southern highlands, Tallong, councilor
World News – AU – Newly elected councilor confirms dead in helicopter crash in southern highlands
Ref: https://www.smh.com.au
