Peter Lynch (mining engineer)
Peter Lynch (14 February 1964 – 26 January 2017) was an Australian mining engineer.
Peter Lynch | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 February 1964 Caringbah, New South Wales |
| Died | 26 January 2017 (aged 52) Swan River |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Education | University of New South Wales |
| Spouse(s) | Laura Anne née Coceancig |
| Children | Aleisha Lynch
Sebastian Gilbert Lynch George Bruno Lynch |
| Parent(s) | Dr Gilbert Lynch and Judy |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Mining engineering |
| Institutions | University of NSW |
| Employer(s) | BHP Billiton |
Career
Lynch was born in Caringbah, New South Wales, the second child of Dr Gilbert Lynch a general surgeon in the St George region of Sydney, and wife Judy. He attended local Catholic schools, then studied mining engineering at the University of New South Wales, graduating in 1988. After moving to Queensland to work on coal projects for BHP Billiton, he met his wife Laura Anne née Coceancig, a geologist from Sydney. The couple had three children - Aleisha, Sebastian Gilbert and George Bruno . Eventually the family settled in Cannon Hill, a suburb of Brisbane.
In 1995, he was appointed Mine Manager of Mount Isa Mines' (MIM) Oaky North Underground Mine, a poorly-performing mine, which he turned into a profitable venture within three years. MIM then appointed him general manager of Lead Zinc Development and by 2002 he was the managing director of Australian Premium Coals Pty Ltd. (APC).[1]
Lynch left MIM to work with Gallipoli Mining (a subsidiary of JX Holdings), then was involved in the set-up of Galilee Basin coal giant Waratah Coal in 2006. He was President and CEO for several years, but, citing family reasons, left in 2010, shortly after the buyout of the company by Clive Palmer.[2]
In 2009, Lynch set up a mining exploration company, Cokal Ltd. As of 2011, the company has four exploratory projects in Kalimantan, Indonesia and has signed a joint agreement with Tanzoz Resources to develop metallurgical coal exploration in Tanzania.[3]
He also held an interest in several property developments including Evans Head AirPark, a residential air park development for people who own private planes.[4]
Death
By 2016, Lynch was estranged from his first wife, and living in between mining operations he was supervising in Indonesia, and his new home base in Perth.
He died with his new partner, Endah Cakrawati, on 26 January 2017 when his private plane, a Grumman G-73 Mallard, crashed into the Swan River during Australia Day celebrations in Perth. His daughter was visiting him at the time but had not joined him for the flight.[5][6][7] The City of Perth Skyworks fireworks display was subsequently cancelled.
References
- Harper, Angela (20 December 2009). "Peter Lynch discovers how to turn his dream into black gold". Courier Mail. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- "Peter Lynch". Evans Head Airpark. Archived from the original on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- "Cokal targets first coal in 2013". Australian Financial Review. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- "Evans Head Air Park".
- "Air Show Schedule".
- "Two Dead in Australia Day Light Plane Crash".
- "Australia Day Perth plane crash: Victims remembered as authorities search for answers". Australian Broadcast Corporation. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.