The man behind a multi-million redevelopment proposal for the Evans Head Airpark development has been killed in a plane crash in Perth.
Peter Lynch, 52, and a female passenger were killed when the plane he was flying crashed into the Swan River during Australia Day festivities at the Perth foreshore yesterday
Mr Lynch was a regular visitor to Evans Head and only recently took part in the Great Eastern Fly-In in his Grumman Mallard aircraft.
The plane was part of an airshow over the river ahead of Perth’s annual Skyworks fireworks display, which was cancelled out of respect for the victims.
More than 300,000 people had been expected to attend the Skyworks show around the river but police asked that people evacuate the area after the crash.
The Great Eastern Fly-in Committee issued a statement describing Mr Lynch as a man of vision.
‘It is with great sadness as we try to come to terms with the tragic news of the passing of Peter Lynch in an accident on Australia Day at Perth in Western Australia,’ the statement said.
‘Peter was a man of vision and one with a passion for aviation and was well loved and respected in our close knit flying community.
‘Peter for many years attended the Evans Head Great Eastern Fly In, was the man with a vision for an Air Park at Evans Head, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Evans Head Aviation Museum.’
Meanwhile, Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Committee Incorporated president Dr Richard Gates said Mr Lynch had also contributed financially to the restoration of the one remaining Bellman Hangar in 2013 so that it could house one of six F-111’s available for museums in Australia.
Peter Lynch had a background as a coal mining engineer and was the sole Director of Evans Head Airpark Pty Ltd.
‘He always appreciated the World War II history of the site and that is what drew him to wanting to establish an airpark at Evans Head,’ Dr Gates said.
Mr Lynch’s Airpark company had an Option to Purchase the whole of the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome which was subject to successful approval of his development application for the airpark.
The DA is subject to approval by council and joint consent authority, the NSW State Heritage Council.
Dr Gates said today that it was not clear what would happen with the proposal following Mr Lynch’s death.
Dr Gates said there was concern about the sale of the whole aerodrome into private hands and that the general consensus from aviation was that the airside part of the aerodrome should be left in public hands.
The Airpark proposal included the closure of two of four of the airfields landing strips. All four have been consistently used during bushfire and flood emergencies.
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