THAT is it for this morning's BathurstAM report. For the latest traffic information regarding the three-vehicle accident at Molong visit RTA Live Traffic or call 132 701.

If you are looking for some beautiful pictures to browse through, take a look at our Bathurst weather photos from June.

If you have a weather photo you would like to share email it to acoomans@fairfaxmedia.com.au.

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8:55AM

WHILE the roads around Bathurst are clear this morning, there has been a three-vehicle accident on The Escort Way at Peabody Road, Molong.

Emergency services are attending the scene and motorists are advised to exercise caution as traffic is affected in both directions.

8:40AM

A BIG congratulations to Kelsey Bower and Brock Alexander who recently got engaged.

We wish you all the best for your big day and and hope you have a lifetime of happiness together.

8:30AM

AUSVEG, the leading horticultural body representing Australia’s 9000 vegetable and potato growers, has written to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver requesting that he asks Woolworths to give refunds to struggling farmers who have contributed to a massive new marketing campaign.

AUSVEG last week went public with revelations Woolworths was asking vegetable growers to contribute an additional 40 cents-per-crate of produce supplied to the retailer, to help fund the comprehensive marketing campaign, involving Mr Oliver.

Growers supplying Woolworths already pay up to five per cent of the value of their produce to the retailer for marketing. This extra 40 cent charge equates to approximately an additional 2.5 per cent for marketing.

The extra 2.5 per cent in real terms represents about 30 to 40 per cent of their profit margin.

8:15AM

THE demand for residential lots across the region is continuing, with two new land releases on the books at Bathurst Regional Council.

Council is continuing its planning for a subdivision to be known as Eglinton 100, featuring 59 lots on Cox Lane, Eglinton.

Council has approved the development application and is currently working towards the tender process.

And, council has also approved a DA for the massive Windradyne 1000 subdivision.

That land release will include123 lots developed off Colville Street on Barr Street, Grimes Street, Barney Street, Adams Street, McLean Street, Twynam Avenue, Poate Street and Matthews Street.

Council is maintaining a strong presence in the local real estate market, as current analysis suggests the region’s population will grow by about 1.3 per cent a year over the next six years, an influx of more than 6000 new residents.

8:05AM

TODAY is the Australian Red Cross mobile blood donor centre’s last day in Bathurst until the end of the month.

If you are fit and healthy and not suffering from a cold, flu or other illness, and are aged 16 to 70, then you could be eligible to donate.

The mobile blood donor centre is open in the Bathurst McDonald’s car park from 9.10am to 3.40pm today, and then will not be back in the region until June 30.

Currently one in 30 Australians regularly donates blood, but it is estimated one in three will require blood at some stage in their life.

Visit www.donateblood.com.au for more information or call 13 95 96 to make an appointment to donate.

7:55AM

BATHURST High will begin their bid to win a third consecutive Astley Cup today when they host Dubbo in the opening tie of the 2014 contest.

Each year the Astley Cup competition pits students from Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo against each other in a variety of sports, with each tie lasting two days. Each school gets to act as host once.

Bathurst are hoping to make a strong start against Dubbo before they have to travel to Orange in a fortnight.

All the sports are open to the public to watch, so Bathurst residents are encouraged to go along and support their local school.

Here's where you can catch the action:

9am: Tennis at John Matthews Tennis Centre

11.45am: Basketball at Bathurst Indoor Stadium

1pm: Netball at Bathurst Indoor Stadium

2.30pm: Rugby league at Carrington Park.

The Mulvey Cup debating competition which was scheduled for today, has been postponed because the debating team won the Western Region Final on Wednesday and have progressed to the next stage which is held today. The Mulvey Cup will now take place at 12.45pm on Friday. A big congratulations to the team. 

To get into the spirit of the Astley Cup take a look at this weeks Throwback Thursday gallery which features photos of Bathurst High School's Astley Cup team from 1985.

7:40AM

Sad news from Cobar this morning, where police will prepare a report for the Coroner after the death of a man involved in a mining accident.

About 11.15pm, emergency services were called to the mine site on the Louth Road after reports of an injured worker at the location.

Officers have been a told a 26-year-old man was working at the site, attempting to dislodge debris from a pipe when he became trapped.

He was rescued by co-workers a short time later.

Ambulance officers attempted to resuscitate the man, who was conveyed to Cobar Hospital however he could not be revived.

Officers attached to Darling River Local Area Command have launched an investigation into the incident.

Mining investigators and Work Cover are also assisting in the investigation.

NSW Police will also prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.

7:30AM

POLICE have appealed for information from the public after a break, enter and steal offence at a bakery in Orange last month.

NURSES at Dubbo Hospital are being placed under unnecessary pressure because the state government is not giving them the resources necessary to treat patients with mental health problems, according to unions.

Parkes MP Mark Coulton has met with the boss of Australia Post to discuss the future of small, independent post offices as the organisation stands to lose billions of dollars in the coming years.

BUSINESS people and private residents across the Lithgow district are becoming increasingly concerned at the continuing spate of break ins.

TREASURER Joe Hockey has lashed out at critics of his first budget, saying claims his policies are ''unfair'' were reminiscent of ''class warfare'' from the 1970s.

AUSTRALIAN homes are among the most expensive in the world when household incomes and rents are taken into account, International Monetary Fund figures show.

7:15AM

Making local news this morning:

FERAL pigs are running rampant in the high country north of Bathurst, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

SLEEP deprivation will be the order of the day, or night, for battle-hardened Aussie soccer fans when the World Cup kicks off in Brazil with the opening ceremony in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

BATHURST’S water woes are back, and some home owners across the city are filthy.Over the weekend homes in Llanarth got a serve of the dark coloured water, with other areas in Bathurst also affected yesterday.

EDUCATION Minister Adrian Piccoli met with staff at TAFE Western Bathurst when he visited the region yesterday.

WHEN the gates open at Carrington Park for the National Rugby League match between the Panthers and Sharks on July 26, there will be one Bathurst local in the crowd cheering on his team.

7AM

Good morning Bathurst, it's Western Advocate journalist Kate Burke here to bring you today's BathurstAM report.

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a partly cloudy day with light winds. We're heading to a top of 15 degrees.

Good luck to all those Bathurst High School students who will be taking part in the Astley Cup competition, which kicks off today. Bathurst High School will host Dubbo College today and tomorrow, before the heading to Orange next week for their second tie.

If you have a community announcement you would like to see published here this morning, email it to kate.burke@fairfaxmedia.com.au.