North Pine Dam

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title: "North Pine Dam" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1976-establishments-in-australia", "dams-completed-in-1976", "dams-in-queensland", "gravity-dams", "reservoirs-in-queensland", "shire-of-pine-rivers", "south-east-queensland"] topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Pine_Dam" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox dam"]

Field	Value
name	North Pine Dam
image_caption	The dam wall in 2006, with the reservoir at 27% of capacity.
location_map_caption	Location of the North Pine Dam
in Queensland
coordinates
country	Australia
location	South East Queensland
purpose	Potable water supply
status	O
opening
cost	20 million.
operator	SEQ Water
dam_type	G
dam_crosses	North Pine River
dam_length	1375 m
dam_volume	450 e3m3
spillway_type	Controlled
spillway_capacity	3700 m3/s
res_name	Lake Samsonvale
res_capacity_total	214302 ML
res_catchment	348 km2
res_surface	2200 ha
res_elevation	39.63 m
website
image	NorthPineDam.JPG
image_size	250
location_map	Queensland
dam_height	45 m
::

| name = North Pine Dam | name_official = | image_caption = The dam wall in 2006, with the reservoir at 27% of capacity. | image_alt = | location_map_caption = Location of the North Pine Dam in Queensland | coordinates = | country = Australia | location = South East Queensland | purpose = Potable water supply | status = O | construction_began = | opening = | demolished = | cost = 20 million. | operator = SEQ Water | dam_type = G | dam_crosses = North Pine River | dam_height_foundation= | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_length = 1375 m | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = 450 e3m3 | spillway_count = | spillway_type = Controlled | spillway_capacity = 3700 m3/s | res_name = Lake Samsonvale | res_capacity_total = 214302 ML | res_capacity_active = | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = 348 km2 | res_surface = 2200 ha | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = 39.63 m | website = | image = NorthPineDam.JPG | image_size = 250 | location_map = Queensland | location_map_size = | dam_height = 45 m The North Pine Dam is a mass concrete gravity dam with earth-fill embankments on abutments with a gated spillway across the North Pine River that is located in the South East region of Queensland, Australia. The main purpose of the dam is for supply of potable water for the City of Moreton Bay and Brisbane's northern suburbs. The impounded reservoir is called Lake Samsonvale.

Location and features

The dam is located north-west of Brisbane, within the City of Moreton Bay, at Joyner, near the localities of Whiteside and Petrie.

The North Pine Dam was designed by the Department of Local Government, with the Co-ordinator General's Department supervising construction contracts headed by Transfield. The cost of the dam was 20 million, and the dam was opened on 12 August 1976 by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane City Council, Alderman Frank Sleeman.

The concrete dam structure is 45 m high and 1375 m long. The 450 e3m3 dam wall holds back the 215000 ML reservoir when at full capacity. From a catchment area of 347 km2 that includes much of the southeastern slopes of the D'Aguilar National Park, the dam creates Lake Samsonvale at an elevation of 39.63 m above sea level, with a surface area of 2180 ha. The gated spillway, with five steel gates, has a discharge capacity of 3700 m3/s. The accompanying water treatment plant is also managed by SEQ Water.

Prior to the initial flooding of the valley, many of the surrounding grazing and dairy farms were compulsorily acquired, and the only evidence of these farms is now the names of roads leading to the lake's shoreline, such as Winn Road and Golds Scrub Lane. Golds Scrub Lane now leads only to the Samsonvale Cemetery; prior to the flooding of the dam, the site was also home to a church and a post office. To allow for the dam's flooding, 27 km of road had to be relocated and rebuilt.

In May 2007, the dam, which was providing approximately 100 ML per day or 20% of the region's water supply, was taken offline as a safety precaution. The drought in Australia caused water levels to drop to 14% capacity, the lowest since it was built. The cessation of water supply was meant to protect the dam from potential blue green algae blooms in the coming summer months. The operators continued to release between 8 - per day to service the North Pine River.

Flood mitigation

The North Pine Dam was designed with little flood mitigation capacity in mind, being designed only for water storage. As such, during flood seasons the location of the dam spillway causes the flooding and closure of Youngs Crossing Road. Flood conditions last affected the dam catchment in October 2010, and prior to that 1991, 1989 and 2000 & 2009. The dam wall is also one of the few in Queensland to be located upstream of a large urban area, and in the event of overtopping or dam failure, Geoscience Australia suggests that the downstream urban population would be flooded within three hours.

Recreational uses

Recreational use of the lake and its surrounding bushland reserve is severely limited, with prohibited recreational activities including swimming, water skiing, diving, mountain biking, horse riding, canoeing and kayaking, camping, and bushwalking. Picnic facilities are available at four locations around the dam, with access prohibited outside of daylight hours.

Fishing

For many years fishing was banned in the dam. Lake Samsonvale has been stocked by Pine Rivers Fish Stocking Association www.prfma.com.au with fresh water fish, including spangled perch, snub-nosed garfish, golden perch, silver perch, eastern freshwater cod, saratoga and Australian bass, with varying levels of success. The dam is also home to the noxious species tilapia which is a fine eating sportfish in its larger sizes but tends to overpopulate and stunt if uncontrolled, as well as a population of Australian red claw crayfish, usually native only to Northern Queensland. Both the tilapia and red claw species are the target of considerable local effort for their capture and complete removal.

Like various other Queensland freshwater fisheries, a stocked impoundment permit is required to fish in North Pine Dam.

Boating

All boating on the lake is prohibited except through two groups. The Lake Samsonvale Water Sports Association and the stocking group Pine Rivers Fish Stocking Association have 300 permits to release each year for non petrol powered craft to members of the public for a small licence fee

References

References

1. (2014). "North Pine Dam". [[Seqwater]].
2. (2010). "Register of Large Dams in Australia". [[Australian National Committee on Large Dams]].
3. "North Pine (Lake Samsonvale)". Seqwater.
4. {{Cite QPN. 29557. Lake Samsonvale. reservoir in the City of Moreton Bay
5. "Layers: Locality; Mountains and ranges; Contours; Watercourses". [[Queensland Government]].
6. (2002). "North Pine Dam". [[seqwater.
7. Hurst, Daniel. (7 July 2009). "Water funds slash debt". The Bayside Bulletin.
8. (17 May 2007). "Wivenhoe, Somerset to make up North Pine Dam shortfall". [[ABC News (Australia).
9. Thompson, Tuck. (17 May 2007). "North Pine Dam taken offline". [[The Courier-Mail]].
10. (11 March 2003). "Natural Hazards and the risks they pose to South-East Queensland - 2001". Australian Government.
11. (2002). "Lake Samsonvale - Recreation Areas". [[seqwater.
12. Fitzgerald, Garry. (22 October 2007). "Lake Samsonvale ( North Pine Dam) - Petrie. Qld". Sweetwater Fishing Australia.
13. (2008). "Queensland Dams". Australian Fishing Network.
14. (5 February 2013). "Do I need a permit to go fishing in a dam?". [[Queensland Government]].
15. (2002). "Recreation policies – SEQWater Lakes". [[seqwater.

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