NWP531B
Develop and review irrigation system management plan

This unit of competency describes the activities associated with the development and review of the operation and maintenance of irrigation systems, including system performance analysis, customer liaison and planning.

Application

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


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Plan and prepare for management of the irrigation system.

1.1 Determine and interpret water quantity and quality requirements including release and flow rates.

1.2 Access and interpret historic system capacity information.

1.3 Identify and access legislative, organisational and environmental requirements and system constraints that impact on the delivery of irrigation water.

2Develop an irrigation system management plan.

2.1 Identify and interpret irrigation system management requirements.

2.2 Identify and validate customer requirements for irrigated culture.

2.3 Consult stakeholders, or their representatives, and obtain input for the management plan.

2.4 Develop and record an irrigation system management plan.

3Review and refine the irrigation system management plan.

3.1 Monitor outcomes of the operations and maintenance evaluations and incorporate into the system's management review.

3.2 Review objectives of the management and implementation plans.

3.3 Make recommendations for changes to plan objectives and operational and maintenance procedures.

3.4 Provide advice and guidance to 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

coordinate measuring and testing activities

conduct investigations

use data to inform planning processes

communicate and consult with stakeholders and users

assess environmental impacts.

Required knowledge:

relevant legislation

relevant enterprise policies

range of appropriate measuring and testing procedures

investigation procedures

customer expectations and requirements

operations and maintenance policies and procedures

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 of the operation and maintenance of irrigation systems including:

gathering, interpreting and synthesising information (including historical system capacity data, current legislation and standards, stakeholder views and monitoring results) to underpin the sound development of the irrigation system management plan

consulting widely and effectively

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

using data from monitoring arrangements to track the performance of the irrigation system 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.

Historic system capacity information may include:

previous studies

impact of weather

relevant hydrometric information

previous system deliveries

previous flow rates and operational procedures.

Legislative requirements may include:

relevant federal legislation

relevant state or territory legislation

relevant local government by-laws or planning instruments

board or authority by-laws.

Environmental requirements may include:

environmental flows

chemicals

nutrients; salinity

downstream requirements.

Stakeholders may include:

customers

government

farmer and grower associations

downstream land holders

other water authorities

employees

customer representative committees

land care or similar active groups

local communities.

An irrigation system management plan may include:

service levels

capital investment

maintenance levels.

Monitor outcomes using a range of indicators that may include:

timeliness of deliveries

flow

input and output quality

testing procedures

frequency

sampling locations

budgets

physical achievement targets

operational procedures

number of complaints.


Sectors

Not applicable.


Competency Field

Water systems


Employability Skills

This unit of competency contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.