Quote:Aerial applicator fined for pesticide overspray 27 July 2026An aerial pesticides application company has been ordered to pay $72,750 in fines and costs for causing harm to two large eucalyptus trees when applying herbicides at Bendemeer, north of Tamworth.The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) prosecuted Air Precision Pty Ltd, trading as Precision Helicopters, for pesticide overspray occurring in February 2023. “In early March 2023, we were contacted by an individual who reported trees on their property had been affected by pesticide overspray from a helicopter,” Mr Kidd said. “EPA officers confirmed agricultural chemicals used to manage blackberry and St John’s Wort were present in samples taken from the trees. “The pilot was not able to demonstrate flight paths or buffer zones and admitted to spraying the chemicals ‘by eye’. In NSW, a person must not use a pesticide in a manner that harms any non-target animal or plant.