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Our Role

The Murray Valley Winegrape Industry Development Committee (IDC) was established in 1994 and the current term expires in June 2008. The IDC was initiated by the then Victorian and Murray Valley Wine Grape Growers' Council (now Murray Valley Winegrowers' Inc) to assist the development of the regional industry that had grown to a significant size and was continuing to grow. The Murray Valley, containing the Murray Darling and Swan Hill wine regions, now accounts for about 25% of Australia's winegrape production.

The IDC is a statutory organisation established to collect and administer the expenditure of compulsory levies or fees. Services are delivered as separate expenditure projects to fill gaps where resources would not otherwise be available for the development of the regional winegrape industry.

While the IDC works closely with Murray Valley Winegrowers', the functions of the two are distinctly different in that the IDC's focus is effective use of compulsory levy funds and MVW engages in broader activities inlcuding political lobbying, support for individual growers and the commercial relationship between winegrape growers and wineries. By separating these functions, the MVW and the district grower associations can pursue their functions more vigorously without contravention of any laws.

The IDC presents projects that are finally approved by winegrape growers with a focus on strategic market information and support of research and dissemination of information to support improved viticulture management. An Industry Development Officer is funded by the IDC levy.

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