AGQUIP DECISION TO BE MADE BY NSW CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER, DR KERRY CHANT.

12/07/21

The fate of Australia's largest agricultural field day sits in limbo as New South Wales' latest coronavirus outbreak intensifies. The lockdown in NSW has been extended until Friday, July 16, with restrictions in play in regional NSW. AgQuip is slated to take place in Gunnedah in the state's northeast from August 17 to 19 but organisers have had to submit revised plans in accordance with the latest restrictions. ACM Rural Events group manager Kate Nugent said they had been working closely with NSW Health and the police while planning the event.

Ms Nugent said NSW field days were given an exemption in guidelines issued late last year but revised decisions on whether outdoor events would continue rested in the hands of NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant.

"NSW Health is making an assessment and we, outdoor events, have a requirement which has only just come into play with these lockdowns and restrictions to seek an update of exclusion exemption," Ms Nugent said.

"We have been asked to put in our COVID-Safe plans and an update of our plans working with the four square metre rules, and that can only be approved by the Chief Health Officer, " Ms Nugent said although the AgQuip site could support current requirements, the event organisers would not compromise the safety of our rural and regional communities and primary industry.

It is understood the focus on keeping regional communities safe and complying with state ordinance and at the same time, another cancellation would have significant economic ramifications if AgQuip has to be cancelled for a second time.