Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to plan for and monitor the protection of trees at sites where there may be threats to the trees.
This unit applies to individuals who take personal responsibility and exercise autonomy in undertaking complex work, to analyse and synthesise information and design, and to communicate solutions to complex problems. The role involves the self-directed application of knowledge with substantial depth in some areas such as tree assessment techniques, the impact of development on trees and specialist tree protection techniques and reporting methods.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states and territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction. Specific determination should be sought through the relevant State or Territory. Works involving this unit of competency may be subject to local tree protection and preservation laws, and the relevant content of applicable Australian Standards such as the current AS 4970 Protection of trees on development sites.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Undertake assessment of trees on site | 1.1 Identify and research relevant legislation and Australian Standards 1.2 Determine specific requirements of Statutory authorities in relation to trees on development site 1.3 Determine local government planning laws, tree protection and preservation regulations 1.4 Conduct a site assessment and identify conditions that impact tree protection program 1.5 Identify work health and safety hazards that impact safety of staff and public, assess level of risk and apply controls 1.6 Identify hazards, activities and circumstances that have potential to harm trees and assess the level of risk 1.7 Locate and confirm trees plotted on survey plan 1.8 Plot trees not on plan onto survey plan |
2. Compile preliminary tree assessment data | 2.1 Collect available relevant plans and documentation 2.2 Identify and record tree genus and species by botanical and common name 2.3 Record tree dimensions, height, crown spread and diameter-at-breast-height (DBH) 2.4 Determine age class and estimate life expectancy 2.5 Determine tree health in relation to tree physiology and pathology 2.6 Determine condition of tree structure in relation to tree anatomy 2.7 Consider heritage and cultural issues 2.8 Consider habitat, ecology and other matters relevant to the site 2.9 Consider location relative to existing and past site structures 2.10 Determine the retention value 2.11 Compile all tree assessment data required for report |
3. Document preliminary arboricultural report | 3.1 Record all trees and groups of trees suitable for retention 3.2 Determine indicative tree protection zone for each tree 3.3 Plot tree identifiers and indicative tree protection zone on survey plan 3.4 Document preliminary arboricultural report |
4. Record impact of proposed development on trees | 4.1 Interpret existing plans, working drawings, terms and symbols 4.2 Interpret development and design language 4.3 Consider how development can result in mechanical and chemical damage and determine appropriate controls 4.4 Determine impact of proposed development on trees 4.5 Provide preliminary feedback to client on potential areas of improvement |
5. Determine indicative and actual tree protection zones | 5.1 Assess development requirements for site access and logistics 5.2 Consider indicative tree protection zone 5.3 Determine extent of encroachment into indicative tree protection zone 5.4 Determine whether works will impact on structural root zone 5.5 Determine extent and area of structural root zone 5.6 Determine actual tree protection zone for trees to be retained 5.7 Define and record the actual tree protection zones |
6. Demonstrate tree viability to major encroachment | 6.1 Determine level of encroachment 6.2 Assess for a major encroachment: location and distribution of roots; potential loss of root mass; species tolerance to root loss; and age, health, size, lean and stability of tree 6.3 Consider impact of major encroachment on health, physiology and structural integrity of tree 6.4 Assess soil characteristics and volume and presence of existing or past structures and design factors 6.5 Consider how site and design factors minimise impact of proposed encroachment on tree 6.6 Demonstrate that the tree would remain viable 6.7 Determine additional remedial measures required |
7. Develop protection measures and advise client | 7.1 Develop an evidentiary portfolio of tree protection devices, techniques, tree-sensitive design and construction measures and tree responses to development activities 7.2 Specify protection devices, techniques and systems to minimise impact of development 7.3 Determine installation and construction methods for tree protection and produce working drawings for on-site personnel for implementation 7.4 Provide advice on tree removal and tree pruning program to client |
8. Document the relevant reports | 8.1 Prepare draft arboricultural impact assessment report 8.2 Develop tree protection plan and tree protection plan (drawing) 8.3 Prepare and document tree management and monitoring guidelines with alternative strategies for possible problems 8.4 Consolidate relevant reports, plans and guidelines into final version of arboricultural impact assessment report in digital and print format and present to client |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must compile reports, plans and guidelines into an arboricultural impact assessment report and develop an evidentiary tree protection portfolio.
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence for and demonstrate:
identifying and researching relevant legislation and Australian Standards
determining specific requirements of statutory authorities in relation to trees on development site
determining local government planning laws, tree protection and preservation regulations
conducting a site assessment and identify conditions that impact tree protection program
identifying work health and safety hazards that impact safety of staff and public, assess level of risk and apply controls
identifying hazards, activities and circumstances that have potential to harm trees and assess the level of risk
locating and confirming trees plotted on survey plan
plotting trees not on plan onto survey plan
collecting available relevant plans and documentation
identifying and record tree genus and species by botanical and common name
recording tree dimensions, height, crown spread and diameter-at-breast-height (DBH)
determining age class and estimate life expectancy
determining tree health in relation to tree physiology and pathology
determining condition of tree structure in relation to tree anatomy
considering heritage and cultural issues
considering habitat, ecology and other matters relevant to the site
considering location relative to existing and past site structures
determining the retention value
compiling all tree assessment data required for report
recording all trees and groups of trees suitable for retention
determining indicative tree protection zone for each tree
plotting tree identifiers and indicative tree protection zone on survey plan
documenting preliminary arboricultural report
interpreting existing plans, working drawings, terms and symbols
interpreting development and design language
considering how development can result in mechanical and chemical damage and determine appropriate controls
determining impact of proposed development on trees
providing preliminary feedback to client on potential areas of improvement
assessing development requirements for site access and logistics
considering indicative tree protection zone
determining extent of encroachment into indicative tree protection zone
determining whether works will impact on structural root zone
determining extent and area of structural root zone
determining actual tree protection zone for trees to be retained
defining and recording the actual tree protection zones
determining level of encroachment
assessing for a major encroachment: location and distribution of roots; potential loss of root mass; species tolerance to root loss; and age, health, size, lean and stability of tree
considering impact of major encroachment on health, physiology and structural integrity of tree
assessing soil characteristics and volume and presence of existing or past structures and design factors
considering how site and design factors minimise impact of proposed encroachment on tree
demonstrating that the tree would remain viable
determining additional remedial measures required
developing an evidentiary portfolio of tree protection devices, techniques, tree-sensitive design and construction measures and tree responses to development activities
specifying protection devices, techniques and systems to minimise impact of development
determining installation and construction methods for tree protection and produce working drawings for on-site personnel for implementation
providing advice on tree removal and tree pruning program to client
preparing draft arboricultural impact assessment report
developing tree protection plan and tree protection plan (drawing)
preparing and documenting tree management and monitoring guidelines with alternative strategies for possible problems
consolidating relevant reports, plans and guidelines into final version of arboricultural impact assessment report in digital and print format and presenting to client.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
relevant legislation and Australian Standards
specific requirements of statutory authorities in relation to trees on development site
local government tree protection and preservation regulations
site assessment and conditions that impact tree protection programs
plotting trees/ tree identifiers onto survey plans
tree genus and species by botanical and common name
tree dimensions, height, crown spread and diameter-at-breast-height (DBH)
age class and estimate life expectancy
tree health in relation to tree physiology and pathology
heritage and cultural issues
habitat, ecology and other matters relevant to the site
methods of calculation of retention value
indicative tree protection zones
preliminary arboricultural reports
interpretation of existing plans, working drawings, terms and symbols
development and design language
principles and methods of mechanical and chemical damage control
impact of proposed development on trees
structural root zone
actual tree protection zones
level of encroachment
assessment of a major encroachment: location and distribution of roots; potential loss of root mass; species tolerance to root loss; and age, health, size, lean and stability of tree
soil assessment of characteristics and volume
viability of a tree
evidentiary portfolio of tree protection devices, techniques, tree-sensitive design and construction measures and tree responses to development activities
principles and techniques of tree protection devices, methods and systems
installation and construction methods for tree protection
principles and methods relating to protecting trees from human activities
working drawings for on-site personnel for implementation
methods of documentation of tree management and monitoring guidelines
draft arboricultural impact assessment report
anatomy, physiology and pathology of trees
interpretation of plans and working drawings
tree protection plan and tree protection plan (drawing)
documentation of tree management and monitoring guidelines
final version of arboricultural impact assessment report
digital and print formats.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be demonstrated consistently over time in a suitable range of contexts and have a productivity-based outcome. No single assessment event or report is sufficient to achieve competency in this unit.
Assessment may be conducted in a simulated or real work environment, however determination of competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions.
The mandatory equipment and materials used to gather evidence for assessment include:
equipment:
computer
word processing software
internet connection
personal protective equipment (PPE)
digital camera/phone camera
loupe
basic diagnostic tools including sounding hammer, trowel, probe, cordless drill
basic soil testing equipment
trees
materials:
preliminary arboriculture report
arboricultural impact assessment report
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs in the assessment of arboriculture units of competency.
Assessment must be conducted only by persons who have:
arboriculture vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
current arboriculture industry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Arboriculture (ARB)