Just received an e-mail stating that the turret bracing project for the HMVS Cerberus has been given the go ahead from the government again.
For those who don't know, the
HMVS Cerberus is a 19th century monitor warship currently in wrecked condition above water in Half Moon Bay near Melbourne, Australia. A group known as
The Friends of the Cerberus is currently working to preserve it. The concern is that the wreck will eventually completely collapse - it has already suffered a partial collapse back in 1993. In 2005 they were successful in having the 4 guns remaining on the ship removed and placed on the seabed nearby so as to lessen the weight on the ship. Presently, the major objective is to brace the 2 turrets on the ship, to again reduce the chance of collapse. They had originally secured funding from the Australian government, however, earlier this year they were informed that the funding would not be used for the bracing but instead other development. In their own words:
After having carried out 3D scanning and detailed design work for a visually low-key permanent structure around the base of the gun turrets, the Australian and Victorian heritage departments have pulled the plug on Cerberus by abandoning the bracing project. Instead of completing the bracing project these departments propose to use money allocated to saving Cerberus to mount the guns in parkland, establish nice displays and undertake cathodic protection of Cerberus already planned as part of the bracing project.
Abandoning the bracing project will sound the death knell of Cerberus. Without the bracing CERBERUS WILL COLLAPSE.
Anyway, as noted above, the turret bracing scheme is back on. From the recent e-mail:
Cerberus Newsletter No. 148 wrote:
[W]e have been advised in writing by Minister Burke's office that if a bracing structure design receives a permit from Heritage Victoria and meets the conditions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act), then the use of the existing funding would be approved to construct the bracing structure.
Good luck guys!
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Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant
Warbird Philosophy Webmaster
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