Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to determine, collect and collate information required, and to develop and document an operational tree management plan for a specified geographical area.

The unit applies to individuals with a broad theoretical and technical knowledge of trees and their management. They have a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills and demonstrate autonomy and judgement for a defined area of responsibility, undertaking complex work with broad parameters to provide specialist advice and functions.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements are to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Arboriculture (ARB)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.

Unit Mapping Information

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has developed an operational tree management plan, which must take all of the following operational components into consideration:

• tree inspections and assessments
• tree selection and planting requirements
• tree management
• tree maintenance
• tree protection
• tree removal
• risk identification and mitigation
• infrastructure protection
• habitat protection
• power line clearance
• community and private trees
• pest and disease control
• significant trees
• trees of a selected geographic area.

There must also be evidence that the individual has:

• determined the strategic context for a specific operational area for management plan
• defined scope of operational management plan
• sourced policies that impact on the management plan
• specified geographical area for the management plan and determined the historical and cultural values within the area
• determined land use and ownership of the area
• established national, state and local government legislative and regulatory constraints for the management plan
• determined key stakeholders and community group influences
• determined core objectives for trees in area
• determined current and permissible usage of area
• identified, assessed and recorded trees to be managed, which must include:

• botanical and vernacular names
• diversity of species
• distribution

• identified and performed assessments required, which must include:

• tree health and hazards
• site conditions
• soil type and condition

• defined and collected data required for operational management
• located and mapped position of planting locations
• determined tree removal and tree replacement processes
• determined selection criteria for replacement trees
• established a tree inventory for the geographical area
• identified financial resources available for management plan implementation
• determined the requirements for tree management
• determined operational resources, priorities, schedules and estimated cost of works required for operational program
• identified existing third party management arrangements and incorporated in plan
• collated information for management plan and developed and documented operational procedures
• prepared a draft operational tree maintenance plan and circulated to key stakeholders and community groups for feedback
• reviewed feedback, amended draft and prepared final operational tree management plan.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

• tree management plans, their purpose and structure, including:

• operational areas for formulating an operational tree management plan
• specifying the objectives, performance targets and intended outcomes for the plan
• identifying key stakeholders who influence operational tree management plans
• documenting and preparing draft management plans for feedback
• preparing documentation and distribution for stakeholder feedback
• using and assessing stakeholder feedback to finalise final versions

• communications strategies for stakeholder engagement, including:

• print media
• public submissions
• public hearing and presentations

• developing and documenting tree management policies and procedures
• considerations for specific sites and trees their use and value, including:

• historical and cultural heritage
• land ownership and use
• street trees and street tree planting
• national, state and local government legislation and regulations governing arboriculture management policies, including:
• zoning and planning controls
• development and planning laws
• disability discrimination
• companion animals

• management and maintenance of trees within specific sites, including:

• health, condition and maintenance requirements
• the need and frequency of pruning cycles
• tree assessments and maintaining an inventory
• tree species, type, diversity and distribution
• soils analysis and growing conditions
• tree protection for development and construction sites
• tree pruning operations
• power line clearance
• habitat protection
• pest and disease controls and control strategies relevant to users

• tree removal and replacement strategies, including:

• selection of planting locations
• criteria for the selection of tree species
• reasons for tree replacement
• protecting infrastructure

• working with and managing third party obligations, including:

• contractual arrangements and contractors
• leasing arrangements
• licensing obligations

• data collection methodologies and storage
• developing and documenting operational procedures and managing resources, including:

• personnel
• supplies and materials
• equipment and machinery

• third party management and maintenance arrangements, including:

• obligations affecting management plans
• existing contracts for works or resources
• leasing arrangements for equipment
• licensing requirements.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of the skills in this unit of competency must take place under the following conditions:

• physical conditions:

• an arboriculture work site with trees or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions

• resources, equipment and materials:

• computer with word processing and statistical software

• specifications:

• tree inventory
• operational tree management plan
• federal, state and local government legislation and regulations relevant to trees
• codes of practice and Australian standards relevant to arboricultural activities.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards. In particular, assessors must have:

• arboriculture vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
• current arboriculture industry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72