Wine Industry Booming

There's the Barossa, Margaret River, the Hunter Valley and the Central West?

Indeed. A wine boom has hit the area and experts predict production of the sacred syrup will continue until the Central West is rightfully proclaimed the state's most prestigous grape growing region.

And for some local vignerons... the wait is over.

"Orange would have to consider itself New South Wales' premier wine region" said Nick Butler, owner of Union Bank Wines.

"I think we're finding lots and lots of people just coming out here... for an experience in the country that's got fantastic wine and food" said Orange Mayor Reg Kidd.

The Central West's rich volcanic soil and mild weather allows the region to specialise in rare cool climate wines

And to guage the success of the region's best, Orange Wine Week's annual wine show, awards the best performers with a recognised medal of achievement.

"Last year we had a good increase and I think we'll have about 200 entries this year", said Drew Tuckwell who is on the local Wine Committee.

"If you happen to do particularly well and get a high medal rank... then there is some marketing value in it", he said.

Bathurst Pubs Among Most Dangerous

Two of Bathurst’s pubs are counted as some of the most dangerous pubs and clubs in NSW.

New research reveals 100 of the most dangerous pubs, ranking the Oxford Tavern at number 12 and the Edinboro Castle Hotel at 78.

The findings are based on reported assaults on licensed premises from January until September 2007, revealing 23 incidents at The Ox and 11 at The Eddy.

The 'Ox' is edging towards one of the top ten most dangerous pubs on the state

Although patrons of the two hotels have refused to comment on the findings, local police officers have said that they are not surprised with the results, saying that a record of crimes relating to licensed premises is examined on a monthly basis.

Detective Inspector Jason Puxty of the Chifley local area command has told the Western Advocate that police are working to reduce alcohol related violence by promoting responsible service of alcohol at local hotels and clubs.

“We are looking at enforcement and increasing action against those who don’t comply and working collaboratively with those licensed premises who do act responsibly.”

Topping the rankings in first place was The Mean Fiddler Hotel at Rouse Hill with 51 attacks, followed by The Coogee Bay Hotel, ranked second with 41 assaults reported.

Don Weatherburn from the Bureau of Crime Statistics has told Macquarie National News that these rankings disclose only a small amount of information in regards to drunken fights.

“There is no doubt this is an understatement of the problem both in terms of the level of reporting to police but also of the alcohol level of violence around licensed premises.”

The data comes after the Sydney Morning Herald fought a 12 month legal battle to release the results.

Race to the Altar

If anything was to come between a Bride-zilla and her dream day it would be a Global Financial Crisis right?

Wrong. Ask these local women, who claim if anything, the race to the alter has become even more competitive as couples try to scope out the best deal. And not everyone is willing to compromise.

"It's nice to have something made specifically for you for your wedding" said Bride-to-Be Joanne who brought her future hubby James along to the bridal expo.

"You do get the occasional grooms! They come in here to poke around... I think they're more here to carry everything", said event organiser Samantha Hockley.

No self-respecting expo would be complete without a runway

With thousands of new visitors flocking to the event every year... there's no sign flashy weddings are on the way out.

"We're in our third year now and it keeps going from strength to strength".

But Local celebrant Genia Cole has seen a change in what customers have been looking for in recent months.

"I think the current economic climate has made people think about what they really want included in their wedding day... and cut out the frilly bits."

The Orange Bridal Expo is an annual event.

Mine to use Local Water

Cadia Valley gold mine is set to proceed with its plan to use local water in its operations, with final tests being conducted in upcoming weeks.

The mine - situated at Spring’s Terrace near Blayney - acquired a local landholder’s water license last year enabling them to pump more than 990 mega-litres of water annually, enough to keep the mine running at a satisfactory standard for up to 50 days.

Landholders are outraged with the mine’s plans, including local resident Bazzle Baldwin who believes it may prove disastrous for neighbouring properties.

“Many of the people who live closer to this particular site where they’re planning to take water, have had concerns because when the bores have been run it’s affected the adjacent bores and so they’re very concerned that if the mine uses that water their bores would be affected,” he said.

Cadia Valley employs hundreds of locals, but is threatening the livelihoods of thousands of others

The mine’s owner, Newcrest Mining Limited, has been holding regular meetings with the residents of the Cabonne Shire, stressing their commitment to look after both land-holders and the environment.

Organiser of the meetings - General Manager of Cadia Tony McPaul – argues the company’s plans are harmless in all cases but believes it’s important to satisfy the requests of the local community.

“What we agreed to do was some pump tests on the bores. Those pump tests will start next week on the fifteenth. They’ll be drawn out tests originally, they’re one hour tests on the bores at different rates, and then on the eighteenth there’ll be a seven day pump test to see what impact if any it will have on the area,” he told 2BS Local News.

The water extraction process is likely to affect neighbouring towns such as Orange, with the water likely to be transported to the mine through one of Orange’s existing pipelines.

The water which plays a vital role in the gold filtering stage of production at the mine, comes at crucial time, with the mine expressing financial instability throughout much of last year as a result of the drought.

Mr McPaul has reminded residents of the significant role Cadia Valley plays in the area.  

“We’re the biggest employer in the area by far and I guess if there’s a real positive I can see for local people and land holders, it’s that during the drought we’ve had a lot of people off the land come and work for us to supplement their income…I’d like to think that we are benefiting the land holders and local area more than what people probably realize,” he said.

Fight for Life

CANCER. Just the word sends fear into the minds of anyone who has ever experienced it... conjuring up tormenting memories for others.

It's the country's biggest killer. And it can strike at anytime, devastating lives and families in years, months or even weeks. But there's good news - survival rates are improving every day and new technologies are now more than ever giving people who once had no hope, a real chance of defeating the disease.

But for one group of Australian cancer patients, the road to remission and ultimate recovery is a little harder than for others. Patients in the NSW Central West region are battling to get the treatment they need. And are having to turn their lives upside down weekly to have the same chance as everyone else.

"The treatment only takes about ten minutes...  if you were in Sydney, you would have your treatment and go back to work" said Dr Stuart Porges, a General Practitioner in the city of Orange.

The rural patients don't have access to radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment unless they travel to Sydney. The trip takes up to five hours for some people.

"It's not fair that our patients aren't being afforded the same chance as everyone else" said Dr Porges.

"We need the appropriate facilities to treat cancer sufferers here, to save them from the stress and trauma associated with leaving home for treatment."

A cancer patient receiving a weekly chemotherapy treatment

A band of other local doctors agree. And they've taken the fight to Macquarie Street to demand action be taken immediately. The group is calling for state of the art facilities to treat patients locally and more consistently. But it's a promise the State Government can't make.

"We have the reality of living within a budget, so whatever the resources are we have to make sure we use them wisely", said Health Minister John Della Bosca.

"We need to make sure we're delivering as much good public medicine and health to people where they live".

It's not enough for patients though, so they've set up a group to lobby the Federal Government for funding. If successful cancer clinics would be built in Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo.

But the fight is far from over.