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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Arboriculture (ARB)