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Access to Silver Plains, Lake Sorell
The IFS has negotiated with Gunns, the private landowners of the campsite at Silver Plains, Lake Sorell to provide angler access via a locked boom gate on the Silver Plains Road at its junction with the Interlaken Road. For many years, the area was leased by the Parks and Wildlife Service under an agreement between Gunns, Central Highlands Council and the State Government but this lease agreement expired last year and there was a question around what would happen to the toilet block and public campsite.
Lake Sorell was one of the State’s premium fishing waters before the ecology suffered as a result of low water levels and the introduction of carp in 1995. With water levels rising at many inland waters this winter, there’s a glimmer of hope that the Lake’s trout fishery might begin to recover.
If this occurs, the public camping area at Silver Plains on the shores of Lake Sorell, might become a popular angling destination once again. The Inland Fisheries Service has held discussions with the property owner, Gunns regarding management of the camping site and angler access to the shores of the Lake, now and with the future in mind.
For many years, the camping area was leased by the Parks and Wildlife Service under an agreement between Gunns, the Central Highlands Council and the State government, and a substantial toilet block was built in the mid 1990s. It was agreed then that if the lease was relinquished, then the campsite would be closed, the buildings removed and the area rehabilitated.
After repeated difficulty with squatters on the site, which finally led to intervention by Tasmania Police, the PWS finally relinquished the lease in late 2008. However, Gunns did not require PWS to rehabilitate the site, opting instead - at its own expense - to clean up the mess left by squatters and to undertake repairs to the toilet block. Gunns is prepared to maintain the campsite and to increase public access if and when the Lake returns to its former fishing glory.
In the interim, Gunns has agreed to provide angler access via a locked boom gate on the Silver Plains Road at its junction with the Interlaken Road. Members of the public wanting access to the campsite or the shores of the Lake, should approach Gunns for a key to the gate by phoning Phil Austin on 0428 120510.
