Coronavirus crisis: Mandurah’s Channel 7 Crab Fest cancelled

The Channel 7 Crab Fest has been cancelled due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.

The event, which usually attracts more than 100,000 people and injects millions into the WA economy, was due to kick off in Mandurah tomorrow.

It is the state’s largest free regional event

This year’s festival, which is in its 22nd year, was to include a host of stars, including My Kitchen Rule’s Pete Evans and Channel 7 anchor Susannah Carr.

Earlier, Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams said the City was having discussions with the WA’s chief medical officer over the event.

Just yesterday, the City had said the event would go ahead.

Small business Nimrod Kazoom expressed “heartbreak” at the cancellation, which he says may put him out of business.

The owner of Kazoomies Restaurant in Fremantle has had a stall at the event for the past nine years.

Mr Kazoom said he found out the iconic Fest was cancelled just after 10am today when a City of Mandurah staff member came up and told him.

“She gave me a big hug because my face showed, literally heartbreak,” he said.

“It’s heartbreaking news.

“I’ve invested about 20 grand into the event, just this year. There is a lot of food and there’s preparation upon preparation.

“The last few days we didn't stop. We didn't breathe for a second.”

Mr Kazoom said he was going to be with a team of 12 staff and was yet to let most of them know.

“We are one of the most popular stalls,” he said.

“With three tills we have a queue of 20-30 metres and we smash it.”

Mr Kazoom’s stall sells a range of food including Spanish quesadilla, slow cooked lamb and crab cakes.

With most of his family in Israel, he is unsure if his business will be able to survive winter after the devastating financial blow.

“It’s going to affect my survivability over winter,” Mr Kazoom said.

“I am a small business. It could (put me out of business) I’ll just have to call the ATO and call mum and try to get a loan and try to get past winter.”

Mr Kazoom said he did not believe his insurance would cover the loss but he would call to see what could be done.

He said his stall fee was more than $3600, which he hoped the City would refund.

“I'm seeing what is happening around the world. I do agree that it’s good to isolate the virus and infections. I was just hoping and praying that it would skip Crab Fest,” he said.

City of Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams said the City was taking advice from the WA Chief Medical Officer, who would make a final decision. However, the West understands the event has been cancelled.

There have been 14 confirmed cases and 1 death in WA, according to the Department of Health,

The cancellation is one of a raft or major events canned to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and a possible delay to the AFL season.