RTD3505A
Maintain natural areas

This competency standard covers the process of maintaining places of natural significance. It requires the ability to plan maintenance works, undertake maintenance, and report completion of activities. Maintaining natural areas requires a knowledge of ecology, plant and animal species, relevant legislation, natural and human threats to places of natural significance, pollution sources and damage potential, legislation under which enterprise operates, enterprise procedures for reporting maintenance works, and selection and application of protective structures, devices and signs.Note: For Indigenous contexts, the delivery and assessment against this competency standard must comply with community protocols and guidelines and be supported by elders and custodians of country.

Application

Not applicable.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements and Performance Criteria

Element

Performance Criteria

1

Plan maintenance works

1.1

Movement through place is planned to minimise disturbance and degradation.

1.2

Legislative requirements, Codes of Practice and the relevant management strategy and plan are identified.

1.3

Equipment, machinery and materials for maintenance works are determined and obtained.

1.4

Where required, stakeholders are consulted about pending maintenance works.

2

Undertake maintenance

2.1

Activity maintenance works conform to relevant risk control measures and practices, and are in accordance with enterprise guidelines.

2.2

Interim protective measures are taken to avoid degradation and disturbance during maintenance works.

2.3

Activities of personnel and visitors are monitored to reduce risks to the significance of the place.

3

Report completion of activities

3.1

Site is made good on completion of works.

3.2

Equipment and machinery is cleaned and stored according to enterprise guidelines.

3.3

Excess materials are removed from site and stored or disposed of according to enterprise guidelines.

3.4

Completed maintenance works are reported to supervisors to enterprise and legislative requirements and best practice guidelines and Codes of Practice.

Required Skills

Not applicable.

Evidence Required

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?

Competence in maintaining natural areas requires evidence that maintenance works have been planned and carried out in places of natural significance according to enterprise guidelines and industry best practice. The skills and knowledge required to maintain natural areas must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts. For example, this could include different environments, sites of natural significance, and maintenance activities.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below:

Ecology in land based, coastal zones and/or marine parks.

Marine, shore and land based species.

Applicable State/Territory and Commonwealth legislation covering parks, conservation, environmental protection and heritage.

Natural and human threats to places of natural significance.

Pollution sources and damage potential.

Basic protection/rehabilitation methods.

Legislation under which enterprise operates.

Enterprise procedures for reporting maintenance works.

Selection and application of protective structures, devices and signs.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include the ability to:

Plan maintenance works to achieve minimal deleterious impacts.

Undertake maintenance with minimal deleterious impacts.

Report completion of activities.

What processes should be applied to this competency standard?

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.

1. How can communication of ideas and information (2) be applied?

Reports to management.

2. How can information be collected, analysed and organised (2)?

According to enterprise policy and procedures.

3. How are activities planned and organised (3)?

Equipment and materials.

4. How can team work (2) be applied?

Maintenance works.

5. How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques (2) be applied?

Timing and costing associated with maintenance works.

6. How can problem-solving skills (3) be applied?

Analysing threats to place.

7. How can the use of technology (2) be applied?

Equipment and machinery.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?

This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

For information about assessing this competency standard for consistent performance and where and how it may be assessed, refer to the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.


Range Statement

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

What aspects of natural significance may be relevant to this standard?

Species diversity, ecosystem diversity and community diversity, rarity of species and uniqueness of related ecosystems, geological diversity including land forms, degree to which geological features and land forms are significant, potential natural integrity, impact of any degradation and/or disturbance, potential interrelationship with cultural values including Indigenous and other values, organisation policy and practice, aesthetic dimensions, interface/integration with productive lands, water catchments, river systems, urban areas, coastal and marine environments and presence of minerals.

Which stakeholders may be included?

The enterprise management, a government agency, private organisations, enterprises or individuals, visitors to the park/reserve, community groups involved in environmental matters including any 'friends of the park', local population and general public, business operating in park such as tour operators, concessionaires and accommodation operators.

To which people do risk control measures apply?

Visitors to a place or area for natural and/or cultural tourism purposes, tour guides from other enterprises, bus drivers, aircraft and vessel crew, contractors, scientific researchers, campers, hikers, friends of park/reserve committees and other voluntary agencies, cultural groups, nearby landholders, and Indigenous peoples.

What protective measures may be included?

Exclusion from dangerous and/or sensitive areas, protection of flora, fauna, topsoil and other features by physical barriers and/or administrative controls, escorting visitors, construction of works and protective barriers, visitor education, briefing of contractors and others on risks and administrative control procedures and measures.

For more information on contexts, environment and variables for training and assessment refer to the Sector Booklet.


Sectors

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

Not applicable.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.