Photos, videos posted of chopper flying low at Fernmount near Bellingen

‘It scared the hell out of me; it looked like it was out of control.’ A low-flying chopper got people talking on the Coffs Coast and we’ve approached various authorities to try and find out what it was doing:

A chopper carrying what some speculated to be a seed bucket was flying so low it had some locals fearing it was out of control.

The craft was spotted around the Fernmount area, east of Bellingen, on April 30.

Gabrielle Tindall saw it flying low near the roadside as she returned to Bellingen from a shopping trip that day.

“I was coming home and saw the chopper and swinging basket around Fernmount,” Ms Tindall said.

“Hubby was driving so I took a photo and video - it was a bit choppy.

“They flew very low, and close to the trees. I was alarmed.”

She hasn’t been back that way in recent days so isn’t sure if it was a one-off.

People took to social media to share their thoughts:

Dave Bowyer – Flew right over me on my way out to Coffs today, was thinking f*** I hope that load is well secured

Ian Scott took this photo of the chopper close to tree tops.

Andy Oli – Expensive way to seed, approximately $1500.00 an hour? That’s a lot of youth labourers with gumboots and buckets of seed

Stevie Lee – It scared the hell out of me it looked like it was out of control when I drove past.

Christina Rixon – Came in low over Waterfall way, wish I had a dashcam as it swung around right in front of me😳 very cool though.

Several people said they thought the chopper was planting seed as the ground is too wet for tractors – as anybody who’s tried to mow their lawn recently can attest.

The Department of Primary Industry (DPI) was contacted for comment on the issue but all the agricultural team within the department would say, via a spokesperson was: “ there are currently no operations led by DPI for broadscale seeding of farms by air”.

The DPI regularly conduct aerial spraying of herbicides as part of various land management strategies like weed control.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority was also approached for comment but directed the inquiry to Air Services Australia who are the government-owned organisation responsible for air traffic management who has yet to respond.

Coffs Harbour banana grower chair of the Coffs Harbour branch of NSW Farmers Paul Shoker. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Paul Shoker is the chair of the Coffs Harbour branch of NSW Farmers which takes in the Bellingen area.

He says while it is an expensive method of spreading seed, it isn’t unheard of, and with sodden paddocks and more rain on the way it could be the only option for desperate farmers.

“Somebody probably had to take drastic action. It is a known method, but often on bigger properties, but maybe a whole heap of neighbours got together to do it,” Mr Shoker said.

“There is a narrow window of opportunity to get winter grasses in so they can germinate before it starts getting too cold.”

Precision Helicopters operate out of Coffs Harbour and they have also been contacted for comment.