SWAN Hill district wine grape growers are being urged to attend a consultation session on Wednesday before a vote that will shape the future of the local industry later this year.
Murray Valley Winegrowers, the representative body for growers across the Sunraysia and Swan Hill regions, would be forced to fold should growers vote not to continue the Murray Valley Wine Grape Industry Development Committee (IDC).
The IDC’s current four-year term ends in December.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will hold grower polls in August and September, with the result to determine whether or not the IDC continues for another term.
The grower-managed committee oversees the collection of compulsory and voluntary grower levies — with Murray Valley Winegrowers (MVW) a separate body that applies to the IDC for project funding.
All growers serviced by the IDC will receive a report from the Victorian Government on what the committee does and the projects and services it funds.
A consultation session will be held at Agriculture Victoria’s offices on Campbell Street at 3pm Wednesday.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (June 27).
