Flow-MER Annual Forum 2024

Venue: Mercure Hotel Belconnen, Level 11, 59 Cameron Avenue, Belconnen, ACT
27th & 28th August 2024

We are looking forward to seeing you all in Belconnen on Tuesday the 27th and Wednesday the 28th of August 2024 for the Flow-MER Annual Forum.  Here are a few details about the event.

Agenda

The Flow-MER Annual Forum Agenda is available on this webpage (scroll down). Please feel free to download and print out this webpage – we will not be providing any hard copies of the Agenda at the Forum.  Also note that the Agenda may change over the next few weeks as presentation titles are finalised.

Location and access

Mercure Belconnen, Level 11, 59 Cameron Ave, Belconnen ACT 2617. Please note, not Mercure Canberra.  Level 11, 59 Cameron Avenue has a clearly marked separate lift at street level next to the Mercure Hotel entrance.  You cannot access the venue through the hotel. Guests staying in the hotel will need to exit out the front of reception, enter the doors to the left, and use the lifts at 59 Cameron Ave to access the conference floor. Level 11.

Accommodation

Accommodation is available onsite at the Mercure Belconnen, 59 Cameron Ave, Belconnen ACT 2617. The hotel offers government rates for agencies, and non-government organisations can access a 15% discount for accommodation using the promo code: ‘FlowMER’ via this direct booking link.

This forum is an in-person, face-to-face event only.

Getting there

Taxi – The taxi rank at the Canberra Airport is located centrally on the ground floor of the terminal building, near the baggage carousels in the Arrivals Hall. The taxi rank is fully undercover, and the waiting area is indoors for your convenience.

Rideshare pickup is available from the Canberra Airport Express Pick-Up Car Park, located on the ground floor of the GREEN Indoor Car Park, a short 20 metre covered walk from the Arrivals Hall (Express Pick-up).

Bus – Transport Canberra runs ACTION Bus route Rapid 3 every 15 minutes between the Canberra Airport terminal through to the City interchange and Belconnen interchanges. Single fair (90 minute) tickets can be purchased with cash at a Ticket Vending Machine located on the ground floor within arrivals hall at Canberra Airport, and at Belconnen interchange upon return. Travel time approx. 40-45 minutes. See timetable for the Rapid 3 . Bus departs Belconnen interchange for the airport from Platform 1, approximately 5 minute walk from the Mercure Belconnen (Map below)

Car Parking – For guests of the hotel, parking is available for $12 per night. For those joining during the day, parking is available on-site at:

• Wilson ABS House Carpark (45 Benjamin Way, Belconnen) – $13 for 3+ hours
• Wilson Canberra Labor Club (59 Cameron Avenue, Belconnen) – $16 for 5+ hours.  Access via Edmonstone Place. It’s the first driveway on the left. Paid public parking is available on levels 2, 3, and 4. Use the lifts in the carpark to go straight to level 11 for the venue.
• Wilson Section 45, College Street Car Park, Cnr of Cameron Ave & Eastern Valley Way – $9 for 3 hours plus

Coffee

If grabbing a coffee on the way in, Chatterbox Espresso Bar is on Cameron Ave, immediately across the road from the entrance to the Mercure Belconnen, and No.10 Restaurant and Bar Belconnen is a 2 minute walk. The Espresso Bar can get quite busy, so we suggest giving yourself plenty of time to stop in here. The Canberra Labor Club also offers coffee.

Meals

There are many food options in and around the area, including along Emu Bank on the foreshores of Lake Ginninderra, a 5-7 minute walk from the Mercure. Canapes will be served on the evening of Tuesday the 27^th, along with soft drinks.  Alcoholic beverages will be available for you to purchase at the bar during the canape event.  We have provided a few dinner options for you to consider, and we encourage you to link up with people at the Forum and share a meal together.

Keep it simple:

• 10 Restaurant + Bar | Woden | Belconnen (number10restaurantandbar.com)
• The Poet Indian Restaurant
• The Canberra Labor Club (Bistro)
• IKKO (Japanese)
• 55 Turkish Cuisine
• Lighthouse Pub (note, they have a trivia night on Tuesday 27^th)
• Hand in Hand Dumplings

A bit more flash:

• Menu – Bella Vista Restaurant (Italian)
• Indian Dining Club

Fast food

• BZ Burger
• WokitUp, PattySmiths, Oporto, Zambrero, Hungry Jacks, KFC, and Subway are all available along the Emu Bank Foreshore.

Shops

Woolworths Metro Cameron Avenue is located 2 minutes walk from the venue and accommodation. A Westfield shopping Centre is approximately 10 minutes walk from the Mercure.

If you have any queries about the Forum, please contact the Australian River Restoration Centre – Siwan Lovett or Andy Lowes.

Please see the full agenda below.