The event which sees adults and kids alike race around in boats made of cardboard, with varying levels of success, has been a hit with the community over its first four years.

Youngtown Rotary, with help from various other Rotary and Rotaract clubs from throughout the North, have helped raise more than $50,000 for charity through the cardboard boat regatta.

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Soggy Bottom Management Committee chairman Leigh Dyson said cancelling the 2021 event was an incredibly difficult decision to make.

He said the committee thought they had a plan to hold the event, in March next year, safely but after consulting with government they realised it wouldn't be possible.

"The committee had worked very hard to work to all the COVID guidelines and we thought we had it covered but when we talked to the government WorkSafe people they said we had a weakness in our system," Mr Dyson said.

"That was basically because we are operating our event on a public park where we could not get controlled access of all the people coming and going.

"That was a very upsetting conclusion but health and safety of club members and the community in general is our priority."

Mr Dyson said planning had already began for the event to return in 2022.

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