The threat of "atrocious and unpredictable" weather this summer has prompted organisers to cancel a popular music festival three months in advance, with fears more events could be at risk.
Australian artists Peking Duck and Vera Blue were set to headline Port Macquarie's Festival of the Sun (FOTSUN) in early December.
The organisers, who did not respond to the ABC's request for an interview, told ticket holders in an email that they would get a full refund.
"With the forecast of atrocious and unpredictable weather patterns, we simply cannot take the risk on behalf of our team, our punters and our hosting site," the organisers wrote.
"We make this decision far enough out to ensure our suppliers, artists and patrons are not inconvenienced at the last minute."
The decision was made ahead of the Bureau of Meteorology's confirmation today of a La Niña weather pattern for a third consecutive year, which could bring above-average rainfall.
Australian Festival Association (AFA) managing director Mitch Wilson said it was another blow for the industry.
"We're extremely worried about the ability for festival organisers to put on their events this summer, not only because of weather events but the skill shortages we see."
Earlier this year, Splendour in the Grass organisers cancelled the first day of the three-day festival near Byron Bay due to a weather warning and flooded grounds.
Mitch said, given that experience, a decision to cancel three months in advance was understandable.
"The closer you are to the event … the more impact your decision has on some of those smaller businesses."
Gary Collocot is the lead singer of northern NSW band The Colliflowers and said that while he was disappointed by the cancellation, he understood the organiser's decision.
"It was our first festival but I don't think it's going to stop there. I'm sure we'll have other opportunities," he said.
"The music industry has definitely been one that's been hammered."
'Sad news' for regional events
Australian Regional Tourism chairperson Coralie Bell said insurance was one of the biggest issues for the events industry.
"The cost of insurance is either hugely uplifted, a huge cost, or people can't get insurance at all for events because of the ongoing risk," she said.
"The event organisers have to carry the burden.
Ms Bell said many in the industry were worried.
"We can't blame the organisers for not wanting to take the risk, but it's really sad news," she said.
"We're seeing event organisers cancel all over the country for a range of reasons and, coming off the back of COVID, this is an industry that really needs to get up and running again."
Mitch said the AFA had been calling for a national insurance or interruption scheme.
"We're seeing insurance premiums go through the roof because of both COVID and climate change impacts.
"We welcomed the federal government's commitment to a national business interruptions scheme.
"What we would love to do is for them to sit down with industry and work out how we can expand the scheme to include, not only COVID-related impacts, but some of these weather and climate related impacts."
