Lake Samsonvale (North Pine Dam)
by Ross C.
Lake Samsonvale was constructed in 1976 when the North Pine River was dammed about 4km west of Petrie to form a water storage of 215,000 megalitres.
There is no access allowed for watercraft from the popular public picnicking (and shore fishing) areas of "Mac Gavin View", "Bullocky Rest", and "Forgan Cove" however, the Pine Rivers Fish Management Association has obtained a licence from the South East Queensland Water Corporation to conduct a scheme to allow access to a section of the lake for paddle or electric powered craft under a public permit system.
A limited number of permits are allocated annually using a ballot system if oversubscribed (but this was not necessary last year) and information on current availability can be obtained by writing to PRFMA, PO Box 131, Lawnton, Qld, 4501, or 'phone 0417 742023. Money raised from the permit scheme is used to stock the lake with native species including Australian Bass, Golden Perch, Silver Perch, Mary River Cod, and Saratoga.
Getting there
Heading north from Brisbane along Gympie Arterial Road, take the Strathpine exit (left) at Bald Hills. About 8 kilometres from this turnoff, after progressing along Strathpine Road which runs into Gympie Road, you should reach the roundabout at Petrie. Veer left here and proceed west along Dayboro Road for 6.5 kilometres to Adsetts Road (left turn). At the end of Adsetts Road (1.5 km) is a large locked gate that is under electronic surveillance and can only be opened by keys issued to Permit Holders. From the gate to the launch site is a further 2 kilometres.
Launching
The submerged former bitumen roadway forms a convenient launching ramp except in times of extended drought when the water level drops and this necessitates launching over the side of the road (this is usually no problem for kayaks as, at such times, matting is spread over the rocks to protect hulls).
Facilities
A toilet is provided.
Comments
For fishing reports see Lake Samsonvale (North Pine Dam).