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General Information

With the Congress approaching, we would like to provide you with some helpful information to assist you upon arrival and for the preparation of your travel.

Location

The Congress is being held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney AUSTRALIA

Parking is available at the Congress venue as well as around the Darling Harbour precinct. Prices will be dependent on time of day and period of stay. See further down for car parking rates.

Travel to/from the airport to the congress

Travel by train

There are rail stations located at both the International and Domestic Terminals. The Domestic rail station is located directly between T2 and T3 Terminals and is accessible from within the terminals from the arrivals level. The International rail station is located at the northern end of the terminal and is accessible from the arrivals level. Trains run approximately every 10 minutes and the journey into the city takes only 25 minutes.

The nearest public train station is Town Hall Station for the Convention Centre. Town Hall Station is approximately 10 minutes from the venue by foot. The State Transit Website - www.131500.com.au - has useful information regarding public transport options, including a trip planner function that will provide you with detailed information on how to get around Sydney.

Travel by Taxi

Each terminal has its own sheltered taxi rank with supervisors on hand in peak hours to ensure a smooth flow of taxis for travellers. From Sydney airport to the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre or surrounding Congress hotels the fare will cost approximately $30.00. A $2.50 airport toll is payable by all passengers taking a taxi from any of Sydney Airport's taxi ranks.

Contacts have been provided below if you would prefer to pre-book your taxi.

Taxis Combined Services
Phone: 133 300
Web: www.taxiscombined.com.au

Silver Service Fleet
Phone: 133 100
Web: www.silverservice.com.au

For further transport information please click here

Checking in to your Hotel

Hotel check-in time is usually 1500 hours. If you are to arrive before this time it is probable that you will not be able to gain access to your room. To guarantee a room is available for an early arrival you will need to pre-register and pay for your room for the previous night. Please email fig2010@arinex.com.au to do so.

Accommodation Accounts

All accommodation accounts must be settled upon check out. The Organising Committee and the Congress Managers will not be responsible in any way for accommodation accounts.

Alcohol

In Australia, the legal age for drinking alcohol is 18 years. If you appear to be under 25 years of age, you will be asked to provide photo ID at venues where alcohol is served. Various alcohol-free zones are in place in outdoor areas – these are indicated by signs along the streets.

Banking Facilities

Banks in Australia are generally open 09:30 – 16:00 Monday to Thursday, and until 17:00 on Friday. The nearest banking facilities to the Congress venue are:

St George
699 George Street
Haymarket NSW 2000
Phone: + 61 13 33 30

Westpac
44 Market Street (Corner Clarence Street)
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: + 61 2 9226 3311 or 13 20 32

ANZ
365 George Street (Corner King Street)
Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: + 61 13 13 14
665-669 George Street
Haymarket NSW 2000
Phone: + 61 13 13 14

Commonwealth Bank
691-693 George Street
Haymarket NSW 2000
Phone: + 61 2 9211 2133 or + 61 13 22 21

There is an ATM (cash machine) located in the Hall 3 Foyer opposite Exhibitor Services. Additional ATMs are located within the Harbourside Shopping Centre, and throughout Sydney and Australia. ATMs can be used 24 hours a day.

Beaches

Australia is well known for its stunning beaches however please be aware of safety, as the Australian surf can be deceptively powerful for even strong swimmers. Only swim at beaches that are patrolled by professional and volunteers Surf Lifesavers (visible wearing red and yellow shirts and hats). Remember their “FLAGS” to stay safe…

• F – Find the flags and swim between them – the red and yellow flags mark the safest place to swim at the beach
• L – Look at the safety signs – they help you identify potential dangers and daily conditions at the beach
• A – Ask a surf lifesaver for some good advice – surf conditions can change quickly so talk to a surf lifesaver or lifeguard before entering the water
• G – Get a friend to swim with you – so you can look out for each other’s safety and get help if needed. Children should always be supervised by an adult.
• S – Stick up your hand for help – if you get into trouble in the water, stay calm, raise your arm to signal for help. Float with a current or rip – don’t try and swim against it.

And remember – NEVER:

• Never swim at unpatrolled beaches
• Never ever swim at night
• Never swim under the influence of alcohol
• Never run and dive into the water
• Never swim directly after a meal

Business Hours

Banks generally open from 09:30-16:00 hours, Monday to Friday.
General office hours are 09:00-17:00, Monday to Friday.
Post Offices operate to general office hours; however stamps are often available from hotels.
Late night retail shopping is available on Thursday evenings.

Catering and Dietary Requirements

All catering breaks including lunch, morning and afternoon teas will be served within the exhibition of the Sydney Convention Centre. If you have indicated a special dietary need, please speak to a venue staff member to collect your meal. If you have not already done so, please advise the Congress Managers of any dietary requirements (including vegetarian and religious requirements). To ensure your requests can be met, please email your dietary requests by 5.00pm Australian Eastern Standard Time Thursday 25 March 2010 to fig2010@arinex.com.au

A variety of eateries and cafes are conveniently located within a 5 minute walk of the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre:

Harbourside centre, adjacent to the venue, offers:

• A food court with take-away, quick meals and snacks, offering choices such as salads, kebabs, grills, pies, sandwiches, coffees, Thai, Indian, Japanese, fast food, and ice cream and gelato.
• A variety of restaurants and cafes, including Indian, pizza, Japanese, Italian, pancakes, Chinese seafood, Middle Eastern, Thai, noodle bars and sushi
• And several bars and the Pumphouse Brewery.

The broader Darling Harbour precinct offers more take-away outlets, cafes and restaurants to choose from, including:

• Juices, smoothies and coffees (Imax cinema complex).
• Small supermarket is available on the top floor of the Darling harbour centre, larger supermarkets are situated in Broadway and Newtown (Coles, Woolworths).
• Many cafes and restaurants along the eastern side of Cockle Bay, including the Lindt Chocolate Cafe! These offer Modern Australian, seafood, steaks
• King Street Wharf, located at the northern end of the Cockle Bay strip, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Malaysian. Locals recommend Georges for tapas to share and Bungalow 8 for alfresco drinks.

Authentic Chinese food is not far away, with Chinatown located south-east of the Congress venue, around Dixon, Sussex and Goulburn Streets. Here more than 60 restaurants and food court stalls offer Chinese specialities, along with Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese and Malaysian offerings. The Golden Century is famous for its fresh seafood (in live tanks)!

Conversions

Australia operates using the metric system. For conversions:

• Celsius to Fahrenheit - multiply by 1.8 and add 32
• Litres to Imperial Gallons - multiply by .22
• Litres to US Gallons - multiply by .26
• Kilograms to Pounds - multiply by 2.2
• Kilometres to Miles - multiply by .62

Currency

Decimal currency is used in Australia with the dollar as the basic unit. 100 cents (c) = one dollar ($). Notes come in $100, $50, $20, $10, and $5 denominations. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 denominations. Note that the $2 coin is smaller than the $1 coin. Australia no longer has 1c or 2c coins in operation, however shops commonly charge odd amounts for products (eg. $1.99). The bill will be rounded to the nearest 5c.

Currency exchange facilities are available in most banks, hotels and airports and operate normal business hours. See “Banking Facilities” for the nearest banks. 2 foreign currency exchange services are located in the Harbourside Shopping Centre, adjacent to the Congress venue:

• UAE Exchange; Shop 431a, Harbourside Shops, Darling Harbour
• UAE Exchange; Shop 175, Harbourside Shops, Darling Harbour

Credit cards are accepted at most restaurants and shops, the most widely used being MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club. Shops may prefer that you use cash to pay for small purchases, and some may have a minimum purchase limit (eg. $10) for the use of credit cards or debit cards (EFTPOS).

Department Stores

Sydney’s largest Department stores are David Jones (2 stores on Hyde Park) and Myers in the city centre.

Dietary Requirements

If you have indicated a special dietary requirement this information has been passed on to the venue. Please see venue staff or the registration desk for assistance.

Disabled Facilities

The convention centre has been designed to incorporate facilities for the disabled, including nominated spaces in the car park and direct access from the car park to convention centre via lifts in section 1 and 5 of the carpark.

Toilets for the disabled are located in the Parkside and Bayside centres.

Driving

Overseas visitors must carry their National driving licence or an International Driving Permit when driving in Australia; if your licence is not printed in English, you require a translation. Australian cars are right-hand drive, and drive on the left side of the road. When crossing the road, check for traffic by looking to your RIGHT first.

Seat belts must be worn by all people in the car, and children must travel in an approved child seat. It is illegal to drive when using a hand-held mobile phone, or when affected by alcohol (for experienced drivers, the level is 0.05) – random breath testing is very common. Observe speed regulations – speed cameras are commonly used to detect speeding drivers. Ensure that your car is parked according to the street signs in the area – illegally parked cars can be fined or towed away to a depot, and retrieval of the car is very expensive. Road regulations vary between states so please obtain further information as appropriate – in NSW visit www.rta.nsw.gov.au or phone 13 22 13.

Electricity

In Australia, the voltage for domestic use is 220-240 volts, AC 50Hz, with 3-pin power outlets. With the use of an adaptor, UK appliances will work; US 110V appliances also need a transformer.

Emergency Procedures

The Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre emergency contact number is extension 5555 if dialing from an internal phone or (02) 9282 5555 if dialing externally.

In Australia, the Emergency telephone number for Ambulance, Fire or Police is 000.

Flights

For flights to and from Australia, please contact info@arinex.com.au. For all domestic flights please visit www.webjet.com.au.

Goods & Services Tax (GST)/Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

Since 1 July 2000, Australia’s taxation system has incorporated the Goods & Services Tax (GST). All prices quoted in this brochure are inclusive of GST, unless otherwise specified.

As part of this taxation system, the Australian Government introduced the Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS). The scheme is administered by the Australian Customs Department. The TRS enables travellers departing Australia to claim a refund of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) paid on goods bought in Australia.

To claim the refund, you must:

• Spend $300 (GST inclusive) or more in one store and get a single tax invoice (receipt)
• Buy goods no more than 30 days before leaving Australia
• Wear/carry the goods when leaving Australia, presenting them with your tax invoice, passport and international boarding pass to a Customs Officer at a TRS facility (at the international airport, located past Customs and Immigration outwards processing)
• Claims are available up to 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight

This does not apply to services or goods consumed or partly consumed in Australia (eg. wine, chocolate, perfume). Most goods can be used prior to leaving Australia (eg. clothing, camera). Your refund will be processed as a cheque, credit to an Australian bank account, or payment to a credit card.

Australian aviation security measures limit the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels that can be taken as hand luggage on flights. Goods that are therefore not allowed to be taken on as hand luggage may still be claimed under the TRS. If however the goods are oversize (eg. a case of wine), these must be sighted before you check-in, at the Customs Client Services counter.

For more information, phone 1300 363 263 or visit www.customs.gov.au.

Health

As in most of Australia, Sydney does not present any major health risks for international visitors. Tap water is good and drinkable. High food preparation standards are required by law of restaurants/eateries. Medical costs are not as high as in some other countries, however travel insurance is recommended.

Internet Facilities

Please visit the business centre which is located on Bayside Convention Centre ground level to access the following:

• Internet Café - $10.00 for one hour
• Internet Wireless - $10.00 for one hour
• Internet Wireless - $20.00 for one day

Invitation Letter

If you need a letter of invitation to allow your attendance to the congress, please contact the Congress Managers or indicate that you need such a letter in your registration.

Language

The official language for the Congress is English.

Lifts

Lifts are located as follows

• 2 x lifts located in Ground foyer of Bayside Convention Centre which gives access to Bayside Level 1 and 2.
• 1 x lift located in Ground foyer of the Promenade which gives access to Car park and Parkside Level 1.
• 1 x lift located in foyer level 1 of Parkside Convention Centre which gives access to the Ground foyer.

Medical and Health Care

If you require a medical appointment, most Doctors will allow you to make an appointment or simply drop in and wait. There will be a charge for the visit. If you require emergency care in hospital, some visitors (from UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands) will be covered by a reciprocal agreement. Contact the Medicare Information Service on 13 20 11 for further information.

In Australia, the Emergency telephone number for Ambulance, Fire or Police is 000.

The nearest hospitals with emergency departments are:

• Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown. Phone 02 9515 6111
• St Vincent’s Hospital, 390 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst. Phone 02 8382 1111 Dental Emergency 9369 7050, Emergency prescription 9325 0333.

Some Medical Centres (General Practitioners) located near the Congress venue are:

• Castlereagh Healthcare, 260 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Phone 02 9283 1234
• Healthpac Medical Centre, Lower Ground, 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney. Phone 02 9282 9725.

Enquire with your hotel concierge for the closest doctor to your accommodation.

Messages & Program Changes

A message board will be placed next to the registration desk. Messages for delegates are to be pinned to the board. Please check the boards regularly.

Mobile Phones and Pagers

Please respect the presenter and other members of the audience by ensuring your mobile phone and/or pager is switched off or on silent while you are in sessions.

Mobility Needs

Should you require specific assistance, please see the Congress staff at the registration and information desk.

Name Badges

Each Congress delegate will receive a name badge on registration. This badge will be your official pass and must be worn to gain entry to all sessions, the exhibition area, morning and afternoon tea, lunch and the social functions included with your registration.

Newspapers

In Sydney, the most popular daily newspaper is the “Sydney Morning Herald”, while the most popular national newspaper is “The Australian”. Newspapers are available at newsagents and some supermarkets; international newspapers are available at specialist newsagents. National and international newspapers can be read for free in the newspaper library at Customs House at Circular Quay (Weekdays 10am-7pm; weekends 11am-4pm).

Parking at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre

The Exhibition Centre car park is conveniently located on Darling Drive.

Car Park opening hours:

• Monday to Thursday – 6am to 1 am the next day
• Friday - open from 6am (24 hours)
• Saturday - open 24 hours
• Sunday – closes at 1am Monday morning

Rates:

Day rates for all vehicles are:

• 0-1 hours = $8.00
• 1-2 hours = $15.00
• 2-4 hours = $21.00
• 4-5 hours = $25.00
• +5 hours = $27.00

Evening Rates for all vehicles are:

• 0-1 hours = $7.00
• 1-2 hours = $13.00
• 2+ hours = $18.00

Evening rates apply for entry after 5pm and exit before 9am the following day.

Automatic pay stations are located throughout the car park, with a central pay station in the area under Hall 5. Payment is made at these stations prior to exiting the car park. Prepayment is also available.

Please note that the ceiling height of the Exhibition Centre car park is 1.8 metres. For any enquiries please telephone +61 2 9282 5000.

Personal Insurance

Delegates are strongly advised to secure appropriate travel and health insurance. Delegate registration fees do not provide any such insurance coverage. The Organising Committee and the Congress Managers accept no responsibility for loss in this regard.

Pharmacy

There is a pharmacy located in Harbourside Shopping Centre: Harbourside Pharmacy, 111 Harbourside Shopping Centre, Darling Harbour. Phone: 9281 4077.

Your hotel concierge can provide details of the closest pharmacy to your accommodation.

Planning your travel

Because of time change and jet lag the Organising Committee suggests you consider arriving in Australia by 9th April 2010. This will enable you to relax and familiarise yourself with your hotel and its surrounds before the start of the Congress.

Post Office

Post Offices generally open from 09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. The nearest post offices are located at:

• 183 Harris Street, Pyrmont
• 44 Market Street, Sydney
• Shop 10, 48 World Square Shopping Centre, 644 George Street, Sydney

Public Telephones

Coin and card operated public telephones are available in the Foyers of Halls 1 and 5 of the Exhibition Centre. Public telephones are also available in Foyer Ground Level, Convention Centre Bayside and beside the Parkside Office on Level 1 of Convention Centre Parkside.

Privacy

Australia introduced the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 in 2001. The Congress Managers comply with such legislation which is designed to protect the right of the individual to privacy of their information. Information collected in respect of proposed participation in any aspect of the Congress will be only used for the purposes of planning and conduct of the Congress and may also be provided to the organising body or to organisers of future events. It is also usual to produce a ‘Delegate List’ of attendees at the Congress and to include the individual’s details in such a list. Consent for publication of the individual’s information may be withheld when completing the Registration Form for the Congress. Individuals are also entitled to access the information held by written application to the Congress Managers.

Program Changes

The program is correct at the time of printing. Please check the program changes board for amendments to the Program.

Shopping

In general, shops open from 09:00 to 17:30 during the week with late night shopping on Thursday until 21:00. On Saturday, most shops open from 09:00 to at least 17:00, and major department stores in the city are open on Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00.

Harbourside shopping centre is conveniently located at Darling Harbour, adjacent to the Congress venue. Its specialty stores are open from 10:00 to 21:00 7 days, and some of their cafes, bars and restaurants are additionally open earlier and later hours. This is an ideal venue for all those souvenirs to take back home with you. This centre has many uniquely Australian stores to choose from.

A short walk into east into town (approximately 10 minutes) leads to the iconic Queen Victoria Building (QVB) next to Town Hall railway station, with shops over several levels in this beautiful historic building. The centre is open from 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Saturday, with extended hours until 21:00 on Thursdays. Sunday trading is from 11:00 to 17:00. A short stroll over to Pitt Street Mall and its surrounding arcades offers more shops including the Strand Arcade and Westfield Centrepoint.

Style and boutiques abound in Paddington, accessible by car, bus or walking from the city. Oxford Street, Paddington, is known as the city’s “style mile”, and markets are also held each Saturday off Oxford Street. The historic Rocks area, located next to the Harbour Bridge and a 5 minute walk from Circular Quay, also hosts markets on both Saturday and Sunday, with plenty of Australian souvenirs and a new section for young designers.

Smoking

Smoking is banned in most public places in Australia, including at the FIG 2010 Congress and the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre. All restaurants, cafes, licensed premises, shopping centres and public transport are smoke-free. Smoking is also prohibited in all covered areas of train platforms, tram and bus shelters.For those that smoke please do so outside the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Telephones

Mobile phones can be used if international roaming has been activated. International calling cards can be purchased to call from a landline to an overseas number. These are available from newsagents, petrol stations, and tobacconists, and can provide a very economical method of calling internationally. To make an outgoing international call, dial 0011, the country code of the country you are calling, then the number. People making an international phonecall incoming to Australia must dial 0061 in front of the phone number (and delete the ‘0’ from the area code). For directory assistance, phone 1123.

Telephone Directory

Emergency Services

• (within the Convention Centre) 5555
• (outside the Convention Centre) 000

Emergency Centre
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital,. +61 2 9515 6111
Missenden Road, Camperdown

Directory Assistance 1223

Taxi Services

• Taxi Combined Services 133 300
• Silver Service Fleet 133 100
• Lime Taxis 135 463 (offers priority pick-up for accessible fares)

Airlines

• Qantas 131 313
• Virgin Blue 136 789
• Jetstar 131 538
• Sydney Airport 9677 9111

Time

Sydney is 11 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Tipping

Tipping is not as widespread or regulated in Australia as it is in other parts of the world. Tipping is your choice as a reward for good service. It is customary to tip hotel porters (eg. $2.00) and a gratuity of about 10 per cent is usual in restaurants if good service is received. Tips for taxis are regarded as optional, however you may choose to round up to the nearest dollar or two if desired.

Visitors Information Centres

Information centres can provide an abundance of advice and written information. A large centre is located at the corner of Argyle and Playfair Streets, The Rocks, and is well worth visiting. The centre is open from 09:30 to 17:30 daily. Various other information centres can be found throughout the city.

Weather

April is autumn and the temperature range is 15º Celsius to 23º Celsius (59º Fahrenheit to 73º Fahrenheit).