2015 IPA TASMANIAN CONGRESS EVERYTHING ATTENDEES NEED TO KNOW (AND MORE) WHY TASMANIA? 96% of Delegates and others attending business events here in Tasmania say they would recommend the island to friends and colleagues as a ‘must-see’ destination to visit. 64% say that they will return within 3 years for a holiday. Tasmania delivers on all the important fronts – o A high appeal destination renowned for being off-beat and original o A beautiful place with scenic wilderness, unique wildlife, waterways and preserved heritage with a fascinating history o High standards of service, business event organisation and a can-do attitude o Travel, transport and accommodation at affordable prices o Internationally acclaimed food and beverage – think abalone, beef, cheese, chocolate, crayfish, honey, mushrooms, mussels, oysters, salmon, scallops, trout, truffles and tuna accompanied by the best cool climate wines, boutique beers and internationally acclaimed whiskies o The friendliness and hospitality of the locals – caring and sharing is our mantra WHY LAUNCESTON? Launceston, Tasmania’s second largest city (pop. 110,000) and the Northern ‘capital’ has the largest collection of meticulously preserved 19th century buildings in Australia Voted Australia’s most family friendly city Josef Chromy voted Australia’s Top Cellar Door Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm voted best public golf courses in Australia Home to the world famous James Boags Brewery Ten Tamar Valley vineyards all within 20-40 minutes drive. Another 10 vineyards only an hour away at Pipers River, home to internationally acclaimed Pipers Brook and Ninth Island, Bay of Fires, and Arras, Clover Hill and Jansz sparkling wines, Australia’s answer to French champagne. Cataract Gorge, Launceston’s own scenic wilderness, is only 15 minutes walk from the CBD Tamar River Cruises – see the majestic Cataract Gorge from the water Ashgrove Cheese, Anvers Chocolates and Christmas Hill Raspberry Farm are all within half an hours drive from the airport Gateway to the North-East – Bridport, Scottsdale, St Helens. Easily accessible from all Tasmanian ports of entry (see Travel and Transport Below) WHY THE COUNTRY CLUB? The Country Club Resort is set amid 125 hectares of peaceful bush-land conveniently located just 10 mins from the city centre of Launceston and 15 minutes from the airport. In addition to the state-of-the-art conference centre there is o An international standard 18-hole golf course o Nine restaurants and bars o An intimate boutique casino o Extensive onsite leisure activities including swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, mountain bike riding, horse riding and fly fishing o CC Resort offers 4.5 – 5 star accommodation rooms in King, Queen, Double and Twin room configurations priced from $144 - $210 per night booked through the Divisional Office o At the CC Villas, less than a 3 minute drive or 15 minute walk from the Resort there are 1, 2 or 3 BR Villas (4 star) from $119 - $175 per night and I BR Executive Suites (4.5 star) for $175.00 per night booked through the Divisional Office o Both the Resort and Villas offer delegates free car parking and complimentary Wi-Fi for the duration of their stay. WHO SHOULD ATTEND? This is an event for IPA members and prospective members from all states and territories, of all ages (20 – 80 is our current age span), and both genders (the delegates who attend are split pretty much 50:50 M/F). Around 40% of attendees are from Interstate with support particularly strong in Queensland and New South Wales. However, there are regulars from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and ACT, and occasionally from Northern Territory and Overseas. While the Program is designed to cater for all interests and tastes, there is no disputing that there is an emphasis on topics of interest to Public Practitioners for they make up the bulk of the Delegates. There will be ample coverage of the hot issues in taxation, superannuation and SMSFs and small business generally. That is not to say that other areas will be neglected – on the contrary, with the capacity to run concurrent sessions (which was not the case at Strahan and other smaller venues) you may expect a broader coverage and a greater range of choice of topics relevant to your professional development HOW DO I GET THERE? For those Congress attendees who have been challenged to reach far-flung locations like Strahan, Cradle Mountain, Smithton and Freycinet Peninsula, you will be pleased to hear that Launceston is a comparative ‘doddle’ – arguably more accessible for Interstate arrivals than Hobart. The Country Club and the Launceston City Centre are just 15 minutes (15 km) from the Airport which is serviced by Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar with a limited number of daily direct flights from Melbourne (1hr), Sydney (2 hrs) and Brisbane (2.5 hrs). Passengers from Adelaide and the Gold Coast have to factor in at least 1 stopover, but the journey can still be made in around 4 hours, somewhat longer from Perth, Townsville and other regional centres in Queensland and New South Wales. Airport transfers via shuttle bus, coach, taxi, chauffeured car or limousine are reasonably priced and readily available. There are 3 other commercial Airports that can serve as the point of entry/exit for Interstate attendees:- o Hobart – serviced by all 4 major Airlines with some direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane . A 2.5 hour leisurely road journey via the Midland Highway will have you in Launceston. A more scenic route is available via the Tasman Highway which takes in seaside townships such as Orford, Swansea, Bicheno and St Helens – allow 4.5 – 6 hours travel time. o Burnie/Wynyard – this regional Airport is serviced by Rex, with direct flights to and from Melbourne only. It is a good starting point to explore Stanley, Smithton, Woolnorth, Cape Grim and the Tarkine Wilderness, all within 45 minutes – 1.5 hours by road, heading west. To reach Launceston it is necessary to head east from the Airport, and travel through townships such as Devonport, Ulverstone and Deloraine. Allow 1.5 – 2 hours to reach Launceston o Devonport – another regional Airport, this one is serviced by Qantaslink from Melbourne only. The Country Club is 1 hour – 1.25 hours drive along the Bass Highway. Cradle Mountain is an interesting inland diversion on the way to or back from Launceston – 1.25 hours from Devonport, 1.75 hours from Burnie, 2 hours from Launceston Also arriving/departing Devonport/Melbourne daily is the Spirit of Tasmania, with a night-time departure in May/June of 7.30pm and a day-time arrival of 6.00am. Fares are around $162 per adult for a Twin berth cabin, $77 for a standard vehicle. Again, rolling off the ferry at 6.00am you would be well and truly in Launceston by 8.00am, even with a couple of stops along the way. Recommended for those who plan to explore the island before or after Congress or for those who enjoy the ‘romance’ of the sea and the independence of having their own vehicle at the front door of where they are staying. WHEN SHOULD I ARRIVE? That depends on a number of factors and will vary for each attendee, according to place of normal residence, whether the primary goal is to get in and get out as quickly as possible (collecting CPE hours along the way) or whether there is an interest in not only in what the Congress has to offer, but also to experience a small (or large) slice of Tasmanian scenery and hospitality before and/or after the event. For Interstate attendees – arrival Wednesday is preferable and necessary for most if they choose to register for a pre-Congress Masterclass on Thursday. Otherwise, by early afternoon Thursday, is desirable. Sunday departure from Launceston Airport can be as early as 6-30am. If leaving from other ports you would be well-advised to schedule flights for Sunday afternoon or evening, or on the days following. For Intrastate attendees – Pre-Congress Masterclasses and recreational activities will not start before 10am Thursday so it will be possible to travel, even from Hobart on Thursday morning (if you are an early riser). The first official function is the visit to a local vineyard and restaurant (either Josef Chromy or Velo) departing the Country Club at around 4.00pm. For Launceston residents – while some will prefer to stay at home and commute to the Country Club each day we would like to think that most will say “hang the expense” and book into a room at the Resort or Villas for Friday and/or Saturday nights at least. WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM LOOK LIKE? The Tasmanian Congress has developed an enviable reputation of integrating a full-on educational program (up to 24 hours CPE in 2.5 days) with a tried and proven social and recreational agenda that facilitates interaction between delegates, speakers, sponsors and staff and encourages participation by the partners of all categories of attendees. The praise that we have received for achieving these objectives year on year would fill a small book and bears testament to our commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. The inaugural IPA National Congress held at Sanctuary Cove in November 2013 and the 2014 National Congress in the Hunter Valley were based on the Tasmanian model and proved to be outstanding successes. The format is very similar to what you will experience in Launceston in May 2015, but with plenty of different speakers and topics, and unique activities of course. Here’s a rough outline of what to expect: Wed 27 May Advance arrivals – Informal dinner gathering Thur 28 May 10am – 3.30pm Pre-Congress Masterclasses (at least 2, possibly 3).