Lake Eppalock Holiday Park owner Peter Rose said attendance would swell at the resort from Boxing Day and peak for several weeks.

“We’d be expecting this year to be on par with last year,” he said.

“Overall it will depend on the weather but we are booked out.

“We expect it to be very busy.

“If we have some nice hot days, day visitors will come in as well.”

Lake Eppalock sits at 86 per cent full, which Mr Rose said was positive.

“Since the water’s come back to the lake people are getting out in boats again and it gives people a lot of confidence,” he said.

“From that point of view, things have been very good.

“We weren’t here when there was no water.

“But the previous owners said the park was only at half capacity and I would say if the drought had lasted another three years, a number of parks might have closed down.

“It’s been a major relief having the water back.”

Strathfieldsaye IGA manager Gavin Piazza expects a 20 per cent increase in customers over the next few weeks.

“It started last Tuesday,” he said.

“For 50 weeks of the year we know every customer by name.

“For the other two weeks, 90 per cent of customers are strangers.

“We’re hoping for a five per cent growth on last year. That would be our target.”

The store has increased its summer workforce with young staff.

Skinnerz Boardroom has also added new staff.

Owner manager Luke Denham said the peak period was yet to start.

“I guess we sit at the front line of the economic benefits of having Lake Eppalock full,” he said.

“When the weather is great, it’s good for businesses like us; but when it’s not it’s better for a wider range of businesses.

“I think it will be a good year.

“If it’s a long summer like people are predicting, we’ll trade well into March.

“Overall, I’m positive.

"We're expecting to be busy."