4 August 2015
Jon Andrews
4 August 2015
Jon Andrews
THE historic Cerberus shipwreck could be saved for future generations after an agreement to investigate relocating its turrets to dry land was reached last week.
Bayside Council, which manages the iconic Half Moon Bay heritage-listed vessel, has been given permission by the Federal Government to do a costly feasibility study into taking off the turrets and displaying them at the HMAS Cerberus naval base at Crib Point.
The 1868 ship, scuttled as a breakwater in 1926, is in danger of collapsing due to the heavy weight of its top structures, and without action is likely to break down and vanish into the waters.
In 2009 the Federal Government provided $500,000 to try to save the vessel.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt, in consultation with the National Trust, has now relaxed conditions on this funding so it can be used for a $60,000 study. Estimates to do the removal and relocation work are between $500,000 and $550,000, but the council may in future also have to provide about $195,000 to seal the site and make it safe. No council money has been committed at this stage.
Friends of Cerberus president John Rogers said things were moving in the right direction. “Hopefully the figures can be made to work,” Mr Rogers said. “The end game is to save the Cerberus.” Bayside Cr Laurence Evans said this was another step in saving a piece of history. Community