When the $315 million bypass project was announced seven years ago the Bulahdelah Loins Club took it upon themselves to find a way to keep visitors coming into town.

"All we've done is worked out a way of pulling these vans from RTA rest areas and into our town," Arthur Baker, of the Bulahdelah Lions Club, said.

"We just had to enhance something we already had and not go off with dreamland ideas," he said.

Bulahdelah Lions Club used more than $100,000 from local and state government to upgrade the park by the river with picnic shelters, a wharf and a new road loop. They also organised for a dump point to be put in at at the Bulahdelah Showground.

"Christmas time went above expectation, there were nights when it was full to capacity," Mr Baker said.

This meant some nights there were up to 40 vans parked at the park.

The flow-on effect into town has been powerful.

An ongoing survey conducted by the Lions has revealed some caravanners at the park are spending up to $1000 on a weekend stay, with the park only a short stroll from the town centre.

Nota spoke to one caravanner, Paul Gledhill, of Cairns, who said he "didn't want to leave".

"I've fished, swum and spent a few hundred bucks here," he said.

"I know the guy next to me spent $360 on diesel and another $200 on food."

Member for Myall Lakes, Stephen Bromhead, said he strongly supported what the town had done.

"They're fighters," he said.

"It's about giving people an experience when they come off the highway."