ABOVE: Casino Rescue Squad’s Paul Cowles at Casino Airport. Photo: Contributed
Susanna Freymark
Casino Rescue Squad was out helping other emergency services today when 70 head of cattle were spotted on the Casino Airport runway.
Paul Cowles is the deputy region coordinator for Region North and he had to do something about the dairy cows.
“Aviation fuel is in short supply so holding up aircraft was not an option,” he said.
The runway was immediately closed.
Then there was the issue of getting the cows to safety.
“There’s a dairy farm just out of Casino on Coraki Rd so we took a chance and went there,” Mr Cowles said.
A farmer nearby was fixing a flood damaged fence.
The farmer and helpers herded the cows to safety.
“We returned to the runway to assist as we had it closed.
“Once the cattle were cleared off the runway we had it reopened,” he said.
Everyone from farmers to emergency services are pitching in during this difficult time for the region.
The floods have destroyed fences and the cows have been swept to places they wouldn’t normally go like the runway.
BlazeAid are returning to the Casino Showgrounds and volunteers will help fix farm fencing. BlazeAid will cover Lismore, Richmond Valley, Ballina and Kyogle LGAs. Anyone interested in helping call Chris and John Male on 0418 745 994.
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