Bulahdelah residents want to make the town a destination for holiday makers before the bypass is complete.

The Department of State and Regional Development staged a strategic workshop at the Bulahdelah Bowling Club on Tuesday, August 28.

Over 100 people turned up to voice their opinions and views about what should happen to the town.

A representative from the Department of State and Regional Development, Susan Rowe, led the discussion which reviewed the plan for the town laid out in 2000.

Great Lakes councillors Len Roberts, Carol McCaskie and John Stephens attended the meeting to listen to residents' views.

"This is a really big deal for Bulahdelah, all the community is working together on a major issue that will affect the town," Bulahdelah town project co-ordinator, Nita Eadie said.

At the meeting the community was split up into four groups: youth, sport and recreation, tourism, business development and physical improvements to the township and surrounding area.

A number of projects across the four areas were identified and then prioritised.

They will be summed up in a document that will outline a five year plan.

"There was an incredibly positive attitude from everyone in attendance at the meeting," Nita said.

The Bulahdelah Chamber of Commerce has already started promoting the tourist attractions of the town with the refurbishment of Stroud St and a town seating project, a light for the big bass, postcards for the town and the launch of a photographic competition for the 2008 calendar.