Rocking on: Thousands of festival goers will be disappointed by the latest cancellation of the Strawberry Fields festival.
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Electronic music festival Strawberry Fields has been cancelled for a third time in the past three years, this time due to flooding and heavy rainfall at Tocumwal.
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Tocumwal Business Chamber president Sergio Redegalli said the cancellation of the festival would mean a $3 million loss to the economy and a “kick in the teeth” to the local community.
The festival was expected to be held from October 28 to 30, with more than 10,000 music fans set to attend.
Festival organisers said it was impossible for the festival to take place, with critical assets and entertainment areas under “metres” of water.
Stopped in its tracks: Organisers say Strawberry Fields had to be cancelled due to flooding in the area.
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Although a festival of reduced scale was held in April this year, this latest cancellation follows the axing of 2020 and 2021 events due to bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Redegalli said the latest decision was “devastating” and the change would have a considerable knock-on effect on the Tocumwal business community.
"It’s a $3 million loss for the whole of the economy, which is not much compared to what other music festivals generate, but this festival is important to the towns of Tocumwal and Cobram," he said.
"This will have a huge knock-on effect for everyone in the town, including motels, pubs and the business chamber. We make over $60,000 through our volunteer barbecue.”
He said it would have been the biggest event to be held at Tocumwal since 2020.
Devastated: Local businesses say they will miss out on a $3 million injection after the festival’s cancellation.
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"It was going to be the first major event in the town, which would allow people to vent and have fun," he said.
The next major event for Tocumwal will be Good Times blues festival, scheduled for March 2023.
Strawberry Fields organisers said they were “devastated” to cancel the festival.
“While the idea of throwing the first music festival exclusively accessible by houseboat, tinny, personal snorkelling or flotation device was somewhat tempting … we decided Australia probably isn’t quite ready for the concept just yet,” organisers said.
"At this stage it is not possible to commence event construction or be confident at all that the festival can safely take place.
“After consultation with our critical local stakeholders and emergency services, and with insufficient time to secure an alternative venue, we have been left with no alternative but to cancel.”
The next Strawberry Fields will take place from November 17 to 19 next year.
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