The 60m high Favco tower crane towers over the completed 46m high drier and yesterday was still carrying out tasks on the site.
The tower crane has been clearly visible from State Highway 1 well before the plant comes into view and from the surrounding area.
Subject to any remaining needs being completed, and the weather, dismantling the structure should start this weekend.
The crane has been on site since October last year and has been essential to the construction of the drier tower.
Originally designed for use on oil rigs, it was converted for use in dairy factory construction, Oceania chief executive officer Aidan Johnstone said.
''Its deconstruction and removal from site is a great sign of progress as we move towards completion of the factory build,'' he said.
The commissioning programme for the $214 million plant is scheduled to start in July.
Initial dry commissioning work is under way on the chilled water system, the wastewater treatment system and the bore water systems.
The significant boiler construction project is also on schedule for completion in time for the delivery of a range of performance tests that form an integral part of the factory's commissioning.
''We are working towards a final handover of the factory from construction to production by the middle of September,'' he said.
