A man who was killed in a helicopter crash in the NSW Southern Highlands overnight has been identified as a newly elected Victorian councillor.
Moira Shire Council confirmed Yarrawonga businessman Andrew Goldman was one of two people who died in the crash near Tallong, 167 kilometres south-west of Sydney.
Police found the wreckage shortly after midnight after the helicopter was reported missing.
Cr Goldman was elected as a councillor last month for a four-year term.
In a joint statement, Mayor Libro Mustica and chief executive Mark Henderson said the council was "devastated" to learn of his death.
"On behalf of our councillors and staff, we extend our thoughts to his family at this difficult time," the statement said.
"He will be greatly missed."
NSW Police have not determined a cause of the crash, which remains under investigation, and did not identify the second person involved.
The aircraft was last seen east of Marulan before a rescue operation involving police, ambulance, Fire and Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service was mounted in bushland near the crash site.
Jan Parker, coordinator of the annual Yarrawonga rodeo, said Cr Goldman was a major contributor to community events.
She said he would regularly donate his time and contributed money and labour to the rodeo.
"Andrew was of significant contribution to the Yarrawonga rodeo; in fact, I'd go as far to say that if it wasn't for Andrew, the rodeo wouldn't happen," Ms Parker said.
"He's a very quiet achiever in what he does to help the community — it's absolutely devastating for his family and the town."
A person who preferred to remain anonymous described Cr Goldman as a friendly, successful man who cared about his community.
"He was a very successful businessman running a big excavator company, and he was a really nice man who will be missed in society," they said.
"You have some people who get out there and do stuff — he was one of those people."
The council has to send a formal notification of the death to the Victorian Electoral Commission, which will conduct a recalculation of the local government election results to fill the position.
