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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Confirm scope of site remediation and/or rehabilitation activities with manager
  2. Plan and organise activities
  3. Liaise with site personnel and community members
  4. Monitor progress of activities
  5. Monitor the effectiveness of activities
  6. Report the progress and effectiveness of activities
  7. Maintain records of activities

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Legislation, regulations, standards, codes, workplace procedures and requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

federal legislation, such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, Australian Heritage Council Act, Native Title Act and National Environmental Protection Measure (Assessment of Site Contamination)

state/territory government legislation and local government by-laws, policies, regulations and plans dealing with land use, acquisition, planning and protection; environmental protection; cultural/heritage protection; vegetation management; nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection; water, water management; soil conservation; pollution and contaminated sites; fisheries, forestry and mining operations

legislation, standards and codes of practice for work health and safety (WHS)

Australian and international standards covering environmental management (e.g. AS/NZS ISO 14000 Basic Set:2007 Environmental Management Basic Set); sampling, testing and/or monitoring of air, water and soils

industry methods and guidelines, such as ANZECC Guidelines for the Assessment of Contaminated Soil, and Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry (Mine Rehabilitation)

registration/licensing and/or accreditation requirements

site-specific information, such as applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements; work schedules; industrial processes and remediation/rehabilitation processes; environmental management and rehabilitation program plans; monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks; methods for sampling and in-field testing; procedures for recording, processing, presenting and reporting data; job hazard analyses; safe work procedures and work method statements

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); equipment manuals and warranties; supplier catalogue and handbooks; safety data sheets (SDS); waste minimisation, containment, processing and safe disposal procedures.

Remediation/rehabilitation plans, programs and activities include one or more of:

site goals and success criteria

regulatory, licensing and approvals requirements

consultation processes and community engagement

characterisation of site to identify materials and/or contamination present, such as:

materials segregation and selective placement

material budget and schedule

identification of limitations to plant growth

initial site assessment, such as:

protection measures for rare/endangered species and heritage sites

climate

water budget and salt budget

growth media (e.g. harvested topsoils)

remediation/rehabilitation program/activities, such as:

landform design (e.g. placement, height, footprint, drainage, mode of construction, profiles and covers)

management of waste rock, tailings and/or wastewater

removal, containment and/or on/off site treatment of contaminated materials

landform reconstruction, filling of voids/pits and reinstatement of water diversions

topsoil management to preserve soil fertility and biota, treatments and fertiliser use

establishment of vegetation (e.g. controlling weeds; collection and retention of local seeds and propagules; seeding [supply, treatment, spreading and hydro]; hand/machine planting of seedlings; mulching, watering, maintenance and staking/protection)

establishment of fauna communities (e.g. controlling problem animals and constructing habitats)

environmental parameters and monitoring procedures for remediation/rehabilitation program

recording and reporting requirements.

Background information includes one or more of:

legislative/regulatory, permit, licence and approval requirements for site

site access protocols and permits

site history, client history and correspondence

site industrial processes and work schedules

records of consultations with stakeholders

road and topographical maps

existing databases (e.g. vegetation, topography, soils and regional ecosystem maps)

geological, hydro geological, ecological and meteorological data for site

workplace environmental management plans for site

site emergency plans and safety procedures

workplace, regulatory or standard methods/procedures for environmental sampling, monitoring or in-field testing

relevant reports, case studies and good practice models for site remediation/rehabilitation.

Site personnel and community members include one or more of:

employees, site and project managers

contractors and subcontractors

suppliers and service providers

consultants (e.g. scientists, planners, engineers and external auditors)

government/regulator representatives and inspectors

community representatives, landowners, traditional owners and community volunteers.

Safety procedures include one or more of:

identifying hazards, assessing and reporting risks

cleaning, maintaining and storing tools, equipment and machinery

safe operation of tools, equipment and machinery

safe handling, use and storage of chemicals and other hazardous materials

safe manual handling of items

obeying signage and using safety equipment, such as protective barriers

using specified personal protective equipment (PPE).

Environmental obligations of site personnel include one or more of:

sustainable use of resources

duty of care to protect the site’s natural, cultural and heritage values

not polluting, damaging or degrading the site’s natural resources, ecological processes or biodiversity

avoiding introduction or transfer of weeds or plant/animal pathogens in soils.

Monitoring strategies include one or more of:

use of transects to collect data across many types of landscape or ages of revegetation

use of point and quadrat sampling along transects

ecosystem function analysis

landscape and soil analysis (e.g. rainfall, infiltration, run-off, erosion, plant growth and nutrient cycling)

vegetation analysis (e.g. species composition and structure)

habitat and fauna analysis (e.g. use of indicator species, such as reptiles and ants, and soil-litter biota)

use of remote sensing (e.g. aerial photography and satellite imagery).

Environmental monitoring parameters for remediation/rehabilitation programs include one or more of:

air quality

quality of surface water and groundwater

residual contamination in soils

surface (and slope) stability

assessment of erosion, measurement of suspended sediment loads in run-off

performance of constructed covers over mine or industrial/mineral processing waste

properties of soil or root zone media such as chemistry, fertility and water

plant community structural attributes such as cover, and woody species density and height

plant community composition such as presence of desired species, condition and abundance

presence of pest species such as feral animals and weeds

selected indicators of ecosystem functioning such as soil microbial biomass and ants

return of selected mammals, reptiles, macro-invertebrates, fish and birds to site.

WHS and environmental management requirements include:

compliance with relevant federal/state/territory WHS legislation at all times

assuming that samples are potentially hazardous and applying standard precautions

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and state/territory Departments of Health, where relevant.


Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

planning and implementing the day-to-day remediation or rehabilitation activities for at least one (1) site

accessing, interpreting and applying relevant legislative and regulatory requirements, standards, codes, guidelines and site environmental management plans

applying a working knowledge of remediation/rehabilitation principles to analyse complex technical briefs and develop/refine implementation plans

clearly explaining workplace site remediation/rehabilitation management and implementation plans, procedures and the technical details of specific activities to site personnel

supporting, communicating and consulting with site personnel and/or community members to achieve quality outcomes on time and within budget

analysing and solving project management problems, such as meeting tight deadlines; controlling costs; coordinating multiple activities; responding to changed or unforeseen circumstances; and negotiating changes to timelines, roles, responsibilities and resources

seeking advice when challenges are beyond own technical competence/responsibility or when input from environmental specialists may be required

using information management systems and/or project management tools to monitor progress and maintain accurate records of activities

providing regular information and reports of progress and outcomes of activities

recommending ways of improving the coordination of future remediation/rehabilitation activities

working safely and monitoring the safety of others.


Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

environmental protection/management terminology, concepts and principles used in job role

legislative, regulatory, permit, licensing, approval requirements and processes relevant to site remediation/rehabilitation activities

common site remediation/rehabilitation goals, success criteria and strategies

remediation/rehabilitation planning and design principles, including stakeholder engagement

site remediation and rehabilitation methods and techniques relevant to job role

common examples of environmental parameters, analytical tests and flora and fauna surveys used to monitor the effectiveness of site remediation/rehabilitation

site characteristics, nature of activities conducted at site, environmental management values, environmental issues, risks and impacts

workplace environmental management plans, procedures, control measures and management actions for site activities

project management principles

workplace project management procedures and controls, such as:

project governance requirements

stakeholder management

quality standards

risk management plans

record management and reporting, confidentiality and security of information

quotation, tendering, procurement and contract management procedures, and delegations

financial management procedures

human resource management procedures and industrial agreements

interpersonal communication, negotiation and conflict resolution techniques

problem-solving techniques

relevant hazards, health, safety and workplace emergency response procedures.