Cobar Show Society secretary, Colette Cohen said while members of the Cobar Show Society are disappointed at the need to cancel this year's much anticipated Cobar Show, most local people understood that they would be back bigger and better next year.

"The huge Ward Oval precinct upgrade has meant we can't put the show on this year and although the project is taking time to complete, it will be a fantastic venue once up and running," she said.

The Cobar Shire Council has received significant funding to complete several projects in the Ward Oval/Cobar Showground vicinity including building an 88 place learning centre and a new multipurpose building with hall, stage, canteen and bar. Already complete are upgrades to the oval, including realignment with new fencing and irrigation and new stables.

Ms Cohen said there had been some community disappointment around the cancellation, particularly among those wanting to be involved in the agricultural competitions and events.

"The ag part of the show is so important," Ms Cohen said. "It's used as a lead up to competing at the Royal Easter Show but unfortunately that won't happen in 2023."

Ms Cohen said the show had been cancelled twice in recent times, in 2019 due to drought and in 2020 due to Covid.

"Last year, the committee decided to make the Cobar Show free as a way to celebrate things being bigger and better after the break. We offered free entry and free stalls for local business owners. It was all about reinvolving the community after a two year break," Ms Cohen said.

An alternative site for this year's show was considered by the committee but finding a place with suitable infrastructure proved difficult. They were also told by ride operators that they weren't prepared to set up elsewhere.

"We need things like cattle yards and a large source of power, and there really wasn’t anywhere else suitable for insurances and things like that," Ms Cohen said. "The sideshow operators and food vans, as well as other exhibitors have been quite understanding and are keen to be back next year."

The historic cattle yards at Ward Oval are still standing but will be removed during the upgrades which Ms Cohen said has caused some angst in the community.

"Some people aren't happy about the cattle yards and historic pavilion being removed," she said.

The old grandstand and the Show Committee office beneath it have already been removed.

"That should have been pulled down years ago," Ms Cohen said. "It was really unsafe. Although we won't have our own offices anymore there should be plenty of space in the hall and we have been offered options like a storage container to store our records."

Initial funding was received by the Shire Council in 2019 and Ms Cohen said she had been told the upgrade should be finished in November this year.

"There seems to be a lot more work to be done for a November finish," she said.

The Cobar Show is set to return in May next year.