Susanna Freymark
Terry Toohey’s family have been dairy farmers at Woodview, west of Casino since 1901.
Back then a busy Bruxner Highway didn’t cut through the green paddocks and cows didn’t have to risk being hit by a car or truck as they crossed the road to the milking yard.
“We were here before it a was a highway,” Terry said.
Each one of his dairy cows is worth about $4500.
There are 300 Holstein Friesian milkers on the Toohey farm.
Ten years ago, he lost three cows in an accident on the highway.
The chance of that happening again has been dramatically reduced with the installation of signs with flashing lights when the cows cross the road twice a day.
The large signs can’t be missed as drivers approach the Toohey farm. Terry has a remote control that turns the lights on.
“The trucks see the lights and slow down,” Terry said.
It took him three years to get into the CUPS program. CUPS stands for Cattle Underpass Scheme.
In Round 2 for the Transport for NSW program, he was successful.
Farmers had to pay half the cost of the purchase and installation of cattle crossing flashing warning lights and signs, up to a maximum of $20,000.
Terry used the company High Vis who do all the flashing school zone signs.
Five farming businesses were funded for solar-powered flashing lights and signs at the following locations: Bruxner Highway (Richmond Valley Council), Tumut Plains Road (Snowy Valleys Council), Barrington East Road (Mid Coast Council), Cobargo Bermagui Road (Bega Valley Shire Council) and North Logan Road (Cowra Shire Council).
Three livestock underpasses were also funded.
The total investment by Transport for NSW for CUPS round two, including underpasses, flashing lights and signs, was $500,000.
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