Cherry Venture soon to be gone forever

IN six weeks, if the rain holds, she will be gone forever.

IN six weeks, if the rain holds, she will be gone forever.

The massive demolition of our tourist attraction, the Cherry Venture shipwreck near Double Island Point, got underway yesterday.

Teams of contractors using heavy machinery will bust up the wreck and truck the estimated 900 tonnes of rusty metal to either recycling or waste destinations via the beach in the coming month and a half.

With history crumbling before our eyes, experts made it clear last November there was no time to get sentimental, announcing the imminent removal of the 34-year-old wreck when deadly asbestos was exposed.

Gary Poort, CEO of the company doing the work, Australia Wide Demolition and Earthmoving, urged people to steer clear of the area.

"The biggest issue from our company's perspective is for the general public to give Freshwater Track a very wide berth," he said.

"They can experience long delays with large vehicles going backward and forward removing the parts of the ship.

"It would make our job a lot easier if people could avoid the area and it would save people on the beach a lot of frustration as well.

"The last thing we want is for holidaymakers to wait a considerable amount of time to see this beautiful place.

"The ship is partially buried and submerged, so there will be work to dig parts of it out below the water table and it will be a delicate operation to remove the asbestos."

A Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman urged drivers to use the Bruce Highway and Tin Can Bay-Rainbow Beach Road rather than the beach while the work was being done. They could also use the Cooloola Way or Counter Road.

Mr Poort said the rain stopped work yesterday afternoon and the weather would have to be assessed each day.

"It has been a major tourist draw for this wonderful area," he said.

"Lots people have had a lot to do with that ship, photographing it or having emotional ties when it came ashore. But it did turn into a safety issue and we were contracted to remove it."

"There is still plenty to see up here, though. We have been lucky enough to be staying up here for the project and the local shopkeepers are very warm and friendly and they are looking after us very well."

The Cherry Venture ran aground in a storm in July, 1973, and became a fixture tourist attraction after numerous attempts to refloat it failed.

Originally published as Cherry Venture soon to be gone forever