Music festival Lost Paradise has been cancelled due to bushfires threatening the Central Coast region.
The four-day festival was scheduled for the end of December in Glenworth Valley, but organisers say lives would have been at risk if the event had gone ahead.
The Three Mile bushfire has been burning in nearby Mangrove Mountain and is expected to continue to burn for several weeks, with the fire too big to be controlled by fire crews.
The Gospers Mountain fire — which has formed a "mega blaze" — is also burning west of the festival ground.
Lost Paradise has been the subject of controversy this year, with the drug-related death of Joshua Tam at the 2018 event investigated by the recent music festival inquiry.
The event was categorised 'high-risk' and organisers were ordered to apply for a music festival licence before the scheme was scrapped by the state government.
Organisers have released a statement explaining they consulted with the Rural Fire Service, emergency services and stakeholders and cancelled the event due to "the intense and unpredictable fire conditions that are expected to deteriorate in the coming days".
"We simply cannot put anyone's life at risk. We have been working around the clock to explore all possible options to relocate the festival, but it is just not feasible within the timeframe," the statement said.
Organisers say all ticket holders will be eligible for a refund.
"We are working closely with our ticketing providers and insurers to process ticket refunds as quickly as possible. Each ticketing provider will provide details of the process, and we will continue to share updates in the coming days."
Music acts including Arcadia, Rufus Du Sol, Hilltop Hoods, Matt Corby and The Veronicas were set to play at the festival, which is a strictly 18+ event.
Legislation introduced last month required organisers of the "high-risk festival" to submit a safety management plan for approval, in order to proceed.
Lost Paradise organisers were yet to have their plan approved by authorities.
Organisers say the event will be back and "better than ever" in 2020.
