• NWP513B - Develop and review catchment management plan

NWP513B
Develop and review catchment management plan

This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to develop and review catchment management plans that impact on water yield and/or quality.

Application

This unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required for managers in water organisations with responsibility for the management of water catchments.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Prepare for catchment management.

1.1 Identify and interpret catchment management requirements.

1.2 Identify and evaluate user and customer requirements that impact on the catchment area.

1.3 Gather historical catchment information and evaluate as input to the planning process.

1.4 Identify, interpret and assess water quality and quantity requirements.

1.5 Identify and interpret environmental factors and other relevant issues that impact on the catchment area.

2Develop the catchment management plan.

2.1 Identify, interpret and validate stakeholder requirements that impact on the catchment area.

2.2 Review and clarify organisational objectives and key performance indicators for the catchment management plan.

2.3 Develop a catchment management plan.

3Review and refine the catchment management plan.

3.1 Assess data from the ongoing implementation of the catchment management plan and use to inform the review of the plan.

3.2 Review objectives of the management and implementation plans.

3.3 Make recommendations for changes to objectives and implementation procedures.

3.4 Provide advice and guidance to catchment area users and stakeholders.

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required skills:

interpret and apply legislation and policies

interpret and use measuring and testing activities

conduct investigations

assess environmental impacts

use data to inform planning process

communicate and consult with stakeholders

Required knowledge:

water quality processes and parameters

water management processes

analysis of historical records

relevant legislation

relevant enterprise policies

range of appropriate measuring and testing procedures

risk management principles

investigation procedures

customer expectations and requirements

occupational health and safety and environmental legislation

Acts and procedures

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The candidate should demonstrate the ability to develop and review catchment management plans that impact on water yield and quality including:

gathering, interpreting and synthesising information (including historical data, current legislation and standards, stakeholder views and water quality test results) to underpin the sound development of the water catchment management plan

consulting widely and effectively

developing effective catchment management plans that address the water organisation's objectives and requirements

using data from testing and other monitoring arrangements to track the performance of the catchment management plan and inform the review of the plan

preparing reports and recommendations for changes to the objectives of the management plan and its implementation

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Access to the workplace and resources including:

documentation that should normally be available in a water industry organisation

relevant codes, standards, and government regulations

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace

where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice

a decision of competence should only be made when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's competence over time and in various contexts

all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence

where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time

assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator, any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and reflecting the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Catchment management requirements may include:

relevant federal legislation

relevant state or territory legislation

relevant local government by-laws

organisational needs

codes of practice

User and customer stakeholders may include:

recreational users of the catchment area

forestry and land management authorities

housing developers and home owners

farmers

traditional land owners

consumers of water

water authorities

Historical catchment information may include:

relevant hydrometrical information

previous monitoring studies

previous risk assessments

vegetation surveys

anecdotal information from land holders

geological data

hydro-geological data

Environmental factors that impact on the catchment area may include:

flora

fauna

chemicals

land degradation

nutrients

fire breaks

farming practices

land use

Issues that impact on or relate to the catchment area may include:

existence of known cultural sites

land use patterns

environmental issues

other human activity

Stakeholder groups may include:

state forestry bodies

state parks authorities

land care groups

catchment management trusts and community groups

environmental interest groups

native title and indigenous groups

state government

local councils/shires

water authorities


Sectors

Not applicable.


Competency Field

Collection and distribution.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.