Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of coordinating the development of regional plans in the context of natural resource management: review existing planning documents and sources of information to inform the plan; identify land management issues and potential solutions; identify stakeholders to form discussion groups and seek individual input to planning; organise for the collection and analysis of data to inform planning and monitor progress; work with stakeholders and technical advisers to develop goals and performance criteria; develop a draft plan for widespread consultation and feedback; finalise the regional resource management plan.

Application of the unit 

This unit relates to the ability to scope requirements of a mapping process, determine regional boundaries, identify regional resource management issues, determine the stakeholders in a regional resource management planning process, and develop proposals for a regional plan.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Scope requirements

1.1. Reasons for development of a regional plan are determined to identify broad goals and legislative requirements.

1.2. Prior regional planning work is identified as input to proposed regional planning process.

2. Determine regional boundaries

2.1. Regional boundaries are determined from economic, environmental and social factors that will produce a coherent plan.

2.2. Economic, environmental and social factors that overlap the proposed regional boundaries are identified to develop a scope and weighting of the factors.

2.3. Prior plans and reports are reviewed to verify the suitability of the proposed regional boundaries.

2.4. Program requirements for the development of regional plans are met in the identification of regional boundaries.

3. Identify regional resource management issues

3.1. Regional natural resource issues are researched from prior documentation and from stakeholder views.

3.2. Economic, industry, environmental and social factors are included in research to assess current and potential impacts of the natural resource management issues.

3.3. The likely depth of research required is estimated to obtain sufficient information on issues for planning purposes.

4. Scope stakeholders in regional resource management planning process

4.1. Economic, industry, social and government activities are scoped to identify influential organisations, groups and people and their particular interests.

4.2. Organisations and groups are approached to determine their interests, viewpoints on natural resource management issues, and willingness to participate in regional planning process.

4.3. Nature of community involvement in planning process is identified from understanding of issues and community.

5. Develop proposal for regional plan

5.1. The objectives of the plan are reviewed after scoping to determine feasibility of proposed processes.

5.2. Proposal for a new or revised plan is developed to obtain funding.

5.3. Estimates are made of time to complete tasks including time for consultations and approvals, and including any discussion with Indigenous communities and groups.

5.4. Costs associated with development of regional plan are identified from preliminary research.

5.5. Proposal is prepared to address the requirements of program(s) and relevant legislation and agency policies and processes.

5.6. Proposal for regional plan is submitted for approval and funding according to agency and program procedures.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• ability to conduct formal presentations
• research in economic, planning, environmental and social areas
• estimate costing
• 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 

• broad geographic indicators with particular emphasis on the region
• regional and rural planning concepts from town planning, rural industry planning, and natural resource planning perspectives
• impact of government processes and industry activities in social and economic terms.
• consultative techniques
• cross cultural and cultural factors relevant to social structures
• local government operations
• natural resource management and issues.

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:

• review existing planning documents and sources of information to inform the plan
• identify land management issues and potential solutions
• identify stakeholders to form discussion groups and seek individual input to planning
• organise for the collection and analysis of data to inform planning and monitor progress
• work with stakeholders and technical advisers to develop goals and performance criteria
• develop a draft plan for widespread consultation and feedback
• finalise the regional resource management plan.

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.

Issues and stakeholders may include:

• the process of coordinating the development of regional plans in the context of natural resource management
• land management issues to be considered in the regional resource management plan including:

• damage to natural resources
• activities or lack of activity causing ecosystems to operate outside their natural states
• restoration of degraded areas
• risk of damage and degradation to natural resources.

Unit sector 

Community coordination and facilitation

Co-requisite units 

Competency field