Originally slated to take place on November 5 and 6 after a delay from its traditional July date, organisers announced the decision to cancel the event outright on Thursday, September 16.

"We had hoped after postponing the July event that we would be able to run a safe and successful event later in the year but with all the current uncertainties now this will not be possible," an AREC release said.

Chairman of AREC, James Sullivan, said "Our primary concern is the health and safety of our community, volunteers and exhibitors.

"The responsibility of policing vaccination passports and other additional COVID related requirements would be very difficult and pose too much risk to our organisation and the community," he said.

"In making this decision, the Board was mindful that a large proportion of exhibitors are from interstate and the greater Sydney area, so there was also a need to be conscious of the bigger picture, not just our local region.

"AREC were proud to be able to provide our facilities for the COVID Testing Clinic for over a month and have seen first-hand the impact this pandemic has caused our community."

General Manager of AREC, Cassandra Stanford, said "This decision has been the hardest one yet. After the cancellation of the 2020 event, we threw all our resources and positivity into planning the 2021 event. Even after having to postpone in July, we were hopeful we'd be able run the event in November.

"It is heartbreaking to have to go through this three times in two years. Not only will our not-for-profit organisation suffer financially, but it takes a toll mentally as well. We can only hope that the situation improves over the next few months so we can again host a safe and successful event in 2022.

"We feel for the exhibitors that have been with us through the whole process and also rely on the event for income. Our event brings millions of dollars into the local region, so our thoughts are also with the local community who will be impacted by this cancellation."

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