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Friday, 1st May 2009

$3.75 Million To Help Redevelop Flying Fruit Fly Circus Building In Albury


Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese and Arts Minister Peter Garrett today announced the Rudd Labor Government would offer up to $3.75 million to help redevelop the training centre of the internationally-recognised Flying Fruit Fly Circus in Albury.


Minister Garrett made the announcement in Albury and also helped celebrate the organisation’s 30th Birthday with Albury City Mayor Patricia Gould, City of Wodonga Mayor Mark Byatt and Chris Pidd, General Manager of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.


The Government is providing the majority of funding for this $4.86 million project.


The funding is part of our $800 million Community Infrastructure Program – the single largest investment in local infrastructure in Australia's history.


We are investing in community infrastructure to support jobs and stimulate local economies during the global economic recession.


This project is also about delivering a state-of-the-art training facility to serve young circus artists and performers not only in the Albury-Wodonga region but also across Australia through the Flying Fruit Fly Circus’ training and out-reach programs.


The Flying Fruit Fly Circus, founded in 1979, is one of Australia’s most successful international cultural exports and has conducted a number of national and international tours, including to Broadway in New York.


It has established itself as one of the world's premier youth performing arts companies, and aims to promote education and cultural development of young people by providing high quality training and by producing showcase performances.


There is no doubt that investing in this project is good for the economy and will deliver lasting benefits for young people in the region and elsewhere.


Their current building is more than 80 years old and was originally built as a clothing factory. There are significant problems with the building including:



  • Rising damp and decaying walls;

  • Corrosion to the external fixings;

  • Outdated electrical wiring and plumbing;

  • Limited working height above the truss:

  • Inadequate climate control; and

  • Insufficient space to run their program of activities.


The project, which is being supported by the Albury and Wodonga City Councils and New South Wales and Victorian governments, is expected to deliver the following outcomes for the community:



  • provide a world class training facility;

  • more than double the area available for both training and performances;

  • significantly increase potential circus membership; and,

  • increase the number of performances, workshops and training programs.


This funding builds on more than $1.93 million already delivered to Albury City Council and City of Wodonga for seven local projects under the Community Infrastructure Program this year.


It brings the Rudd Government’s investment in community infrastructure in Albury-Wodonga region to nearly $5.7 million in the last four months.


More than 3,000 community projects are being funded by the Rudd Labor Government to support jobs, stimulate local economies and deliver long-term improvements in communities.


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Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

Phone: (02) 9564 3588
Fax: (02) 9564 1734
Email: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our offices stand and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

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