The Minns government, which manages New South Wales (NSW) in Australia, has announced that it is deploying Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters to deliver emergency fodder to farmers affected by major flooding in the country.
Several days of intense flooding and heavy rainfall in southeastern Australia began during the week of May 19, 2025, and caused extensive damage in the Mid-North Coast, North Coast, and Hunter regions. Reportedly, the floods isolated towns, swept away livestock, and ruined homes.
“This extreme weather event has ended up being more impactful than thought possible and I want to praise the work of farmers for all their efforts in protecting their livestock as well as they have,” NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty announced in a statement on May 25, 2025.
Over 43 helicopter aerial drops of fodder were conducted, with nearly 131 emergency fodder deliveries by other methods.
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters said in a statement on X that “the weather has improved”, but the teams are “still locating people, providing supplies to assist impacted communities.”
#FLOOD #RESCUE while the weather has improves we are still locating people, providing supplies and working with @NSWSES and others to assist impacted communities. #staysafe ⚠️ #lifesaverhelo pic.twitter.com/a0fx5MIIm1
— Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters (@Lifesaverhelo) May 25, 2025
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is working with Local Land Services (LLS) teams, which have around 80 staff prepared to assist, as part of the Agricultural and Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA).
According to the Minns ministry, another important element of emergency response and recovery for farmers is the difficult process of deceased animal disposal.
The ministry added that through the AASFA emergency hotline, farmers and community members can make requests for carcass disposal and report deceased livestock.
“We know it is an incredibly difficult time for landholders, and we have teams ready to assist them where we can,” Director of NSW Department of Primary Industries Leigh Pilkington concluded.
