Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers planning and managing infrastructure requirements and defines the standard required to: identify infrastructure requirements for the enterprise; source, construct and/or modify infrastructure to meet enterprise requirements; develop an infrastructure maintenance program, including scheduling and responsibilities; establish a recording system for infrastructure purchase, construction and maintenance.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to those whose job role involves planning and managing infrastructure requirements in agricultural or production horticultural enterprises.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Determine infrastructure requirements

1.1. Information regarding the characteristics of the products and their respective market requirements is accessed.

1.2. Characteristics of the land under production and the production processes to be used are confirmed from colleagues and other planning processes.

1.3. Historical data, including recent data, from organisational records is identified and accessed for input to infrastructure planning processes.

1.4. Information regarding other organisational planning processes and potential for improvements or innovations, is collected and used to inform the infrastructure planning process.

1.5. Requirements of the organisation are taken into consideration during analysis.

1.6. All available information is analysed, and the infrastructure required to efficiently achieve the targeted production requirements are identified and compared with those existing and available in the organisation.

1.7. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards identified, risks assessed and suitable controls are incorporated into the planning process.

1.8. Replacements, purchases and sales of plant and vehicles are planned and budgeted for according to organisational policies and procedures.

1.9. Details regarding infrastructure requirements are used as input to other organisational planning processes.

2. Obtain, prepare or build infrastructure

2.1. Solutions to bridging the gaps between required and existing infrastructure are identified.

2.2. Preferred solution to filling gaps in required infrastructure is determined from a cost benefit analysis.

2.3. Negotiations are undertaken to obtain infrastructure or componentry at the best rate for the organisation.

2.4. Preparation work required for existing infrastructure is organised and undertaken as necessary.

2.5. Works required are planned and commissioned according to organisation requirements.

2.6. All alterations to infrastructure or new developments give due consideration to environmental and waste management requirements.

3. Manage infrastructure

3.1. Infrastructure maintenance programs are determined including scheduling and responsibilities.

3.2. Replacements, purchases and sales of plant and vehicles are undertaken according to plans made, and are in line with organisation policies and guidelines.

3.3. Any reallocations of land required are undertaken with the planning and consultation required by the organisation, and within all relevant guidelines and regulations.

3.4. Situations that require unplanned maintenance are managed within organisation guidelines and policy.

3.5. Checks are made to ensure that program specifications are adhered to and amendments are made where necessary.

3.6. Checks are made to ensure that all OHS requirements are adhered to, including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.

3.7. Checks are made to ensure that potential detrimental environmental impacts are minimised or eliminated.

4. Record and manage information

4.1. Data, observations and documentation recorded during the production cycle are analysed against the plan according to organisation guidelines.

4.2. Recommendations for future plans are prepared based on the analysis of the data.

4.3. A report is prepared that documents the plans implementation according to the organisations requirements and guidelines.

4.4. Records and documentation are created, maintained and kept as described in the infrastructure plan, the OHS requirements, and machinery and equipment management programs.

4.5. Records and documentation are completed clearly and accurately throughout production in the organisation.

4.6. The record keeping system that is used ensures that required information is available, accessible, meaningful and useful.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• interpret monitored information on production processes
• interpret, analyse and extract information from a range sources such as professional literature, legal documents, discussions, and workshops
• identify, build and use network and support groups
• recognise potential opportunities to use or install more environmentally efficient systems or equipment
• assess, then adopt, profitable innovations
• planning
• calculating volumes areas and distances
• cost benefit analyses observe
• identify and react appropriately to environmental implications and OHS hazards
• use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• sustainable land use principles and practices
• property planning, financial management and enterprise budgeting systems and procedures
• environmental controls and codes of practice available to the organisation
• relevant legislation and regulations relating to OHS, contractor engagement, chemical use and application, and vehicle and plant use
• sound management practices and processes to minimise noise odours and debris from production processes
• sustainable land use principles and practices applicable in the region
• relevant legislation and regulations relating to soil and water degradation issues, animal health and welfare, and chemical use.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• identify infrastructure requirements for the enterprise
• source, construct and/or modify infrastructure to meet enterprise requirements
• develop an infrastructure maintenance program including scheduling and responsibilities
• establish a recording system for infrastructure purchase, construction and maintenance.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Infrastructure may include:

• buildings
• sheds
• shelters
• stock yards
• stock handling structures
• fences
• water supply systems
• roads
• tracks
• soil conservation works
• irrigation and drainage channels
• silage pits, and/or grain and fodder storage
• dams
• monitoring systems
• information technology systems.

Unit sector 

Agribusiness

Co-requisite units 

Competency field