Lake Paluma is becoming a key Townsville and Thuringowa tourist drawcard.

NQ Water figures show around a thousand vehicles a month visiting the mountain reservoir in the quarter ending last calendar year and more than 600 vehicles in February. In November 2003, there were only 400 vehicle movements recorded.

More campers and a significantly greater number of day visitors account for the increase says NQ Water Ranger James Jackson.

Mr Jackson says Lake Paluma is a more attractive place to stay now than it was two years ago after NQ Water spent more than $500,000 upgrading the dam and recreation facilities and introducing a permitting system.

"Not only are there more people visiting and camping, there's been a change in demographic," says Mr Jackson.  

"We increased the number of patrols including more weekend night patrols, which has discouraged the disruptive element.

"There are more tourists while locals, particularly families, are returning to Lake Paluma after long absences, in some cases.  

"There's less environmental damage and a greater appreciation of the lake for its natural values and its part in the wet tropics protected area."

Mr Jackson says rangers are also tightening up on people camping without a permit.

"We've been generous over the period of introducing the internet booking system," he says. "There's now plenty of access for campers to permits.