Range of Variables The Range of Variables defines the different contexts, work environments and parameters governing the performance of this competency standard. The variables chosen in training and assessment will need to reflect local industry and regional contexts |
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Which types of land uses may be included? | Agricultural production, forestry, nature and wildlife reserves, community lands, heritage areas and recreation. |
Which relevantFederal, State legislation and local regulations may be included? | Environmental protection, vertebrate pests, noxious weeds, use of firearms (including licensing requirements and exemptions), humane treatment of animals, activities in nature reserves and heritage areas, poisons and veterinary substances, identification and reporting of suspected outbreaks of exotic disease, OHS regulations and common law principles relating to property, stock, duty of care and due diligence. |
What forms of land value may be relevant? | Economic and environmental value. |
Who might the otherstakeholders referred to in this standard be? | Land managers in the region, recreational land users, regional land management bodies, local regulatory authorities and landcare committees. |
Which measures of potential or actual impact may be included in the management units? | Biological values, agricultural values, environmental values, recreational and social values and public health values. |
Which management options may be included? | Commercial management, crisis management, no management, local eradication and strategic management (sustained, targeted and one-off). |
What methods and techniques for controlling pest problems may be used? | Changing land management or production processes and practices (e.g., changing lambing times, changing sowing times and changing crops), modifying habitat, pasture management and pest population control (shooting, poisoning, trapping, mustering, relocation, fumigation, sedation, exclusion fencing, biological controls, harvesting and tagging), and weed control (poisoning, biological controls). |
Which factors may affect vertebrate pest population? | Food supply, habitat conditions, existing control by hunting and harvesting activities, climate and weather, water supply, natural predators, disease and parasites and land topography. |
How might supporting and validating data be obtained? | By direct observation, GIS, air-flown MSS and satellite information. |
Which vertebrate pests may be relevant to this standard? | Kangaroo, wallaby, emu, wombat, possum, fruit bat, cockatoo/parrot, waterfowl, seagull, starlings, pigeon and other birds, goat, horse, deer, pig, camel, cat, cattle, dog, water buffalo, donkey, rabbit, red fox, brown hare, cane toads, European carp, house mouse, black rat and brown rat. |
Which methods for determining vertebrate pest population distribution may be used? | Animal counts (including spotlight and aerial counts, faecal counts, warren, burrow, den and nest counts), and tracking pads and feeding stations. |
What sorts of damage or loss may be caused by pests? | Loss of pasture, loss of livestock, loss of crops, loss of native fauna, loss of recreational and social amenity, increased incidence of disease vectors, reduced tourism, loss of crops, damage to fences, loss of native flora, soil disturbance and erosion, reduction in water quality, pollution, increased incidence of disease vectors and reduced tourism. |
What comparative data may be included? | Reduction in damage and loss observed and regeneration observed. |
What forms of documentation may be relevant to this standard? | Poisons register, MSDS and other relevant documents. |
What types of weeds may be relevant to this competency standard? | Economic weeds, aquatic weeds and environmental weeds. |
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