Course Title: Develop a management plan for a designated area

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

Course Code: ENVI5077C

Course Title: Develop a management plan for a designated area

School: 155T Life & Physical Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5305 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management

Course Contact : Judi McCann

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 8366

Course Contact Email:judith.mccann@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

For additional information on this Course contact the Teacher:

Bruce Partland

Phone: 99258323

e-mail: bruce.partland@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 200

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

There are none

Course Description

This unit covers developing a management plan for a designated area and defines the standard required to: discuss management plan objectives, deliverables and timeline with client; prepare a site plan detailing landscape values, physical features and characteristics, land uses (both past and present), physical condition and biological characteristics; identify land capability and conservation issues on and surrounding the site; analyse site information and description to assess feasibility of management objectives; develop and cost recommended actions and present to client for discussion as a draft management plan; consult with stakeholders and incorporate feedback into the final management plan.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	AHCLPW501A Develop a management plan for a designated area
Element:	1. Define the need for a management plan
Performance Criteria:	1.1. Management plan objectives are identified for the designated area. 1.2. Brief is agreed in consultation with client. 1.3. Planning team including specialists and consultants is identified
Element:	2. Undertake preliminary planning activities
Performance Criteria:	2.1. Major stakeholders are identified. 2.2. Availability of specialists to assist in management planning work is ascertained and contracts are prepared where required. 2.3. Timelines for development of the management plan and reporting arrangements to client are established. 2.4. Resources required for the development of management strategies are identified.
Element:	3.Prepare a site description
Performance Criteria:	3.1. Landscape values of the area are identified and mapped. 3.2. Physical features and characteristics of the area are identified and mapped. 3.3. Land uses, including current, cultural, and historical modifications, are researched and their effects on the designated area are determined and recorded. 3.4. Physical condition of site is assessed and documented 3.5. Biological characteristics of the site are documented.
Element:	4. Analyse site information and description
Performance Criteria:	4.1. Information is evaluated in terms of core principles and objectives. 4.2. Documents are produced including plans, technical reports and maps. 4.3. Priorities and key conservation issues are determined. 4.4. Longitudinal projections of continuing impacts are prepared. 4.5. Land capability is assessed. 4.6. Opportunities and constraints to meeting planning objectives and goals are identified and documented. 4.7. Presentation to stakeholders/clients is undertaken and feedback incorporated into planning documentation
Element:	5. Identify management strategies
Performance Criteria:	5.1. Management strategies are identified that address defined objectives. 5.2. Management strategies are designed to alleviateexisting impacts or to target management actions. 5.3. Management strategies are costed and compared to existing budgets and available resources. 5.4. Staging of work is planned to prioritise outcomes and management resource allocation. 5.5. Consultation with stakeholders/clients is undertaken and feedback incorporated into planning documentation.
Element:	6. Prepare the management plan
Performance Criteria:	6.1. Site information and management strategies are documented into a draft management plan for consultation. 6.2. Consultation with stakeholders and clients is undertaken according to enterprise guidelines. 6.3. Changes are made to the draft plan, and a final plan is prepared and presented to client.

Learning Outcomes

This is a competency based course

Details of Learning Activities

The Course requires students to become familar with the many pressures on public lands, and to understand the important role of planning in preserving and enhancing desirable values on those lands.
To achieve this students will be introduced to relevant international and local Case studies; assess an actual management plan; become competent at map creation; become familiar with online resources such as DSE Interactive maps and the relevant Planning information they contain; be introduced to the DSE Management Plan template.
Students will be actively involved in the assessment of an area of public land, producing a comprehensive Site Assessment / Existing Conditions Report. Much of this work will be done in-class, after on-ground familiarization with the site.
After in-class analysis of site information, and discussion with relevant stakeholders regarding the actual or perceived Values of the site, students will identify management strategies that are likely to preserve and hopefully enhance the core values of the area.
Following this students will compile a comprehensive Draft Management Plan for the site. After comments from relevant stakeholders this ’publishable’ Plan will (along with the existing Conditions Report) form the major assessment piece for this Course.
 

Teaching Schedule

Classes will take place on Moday afternoons, 1.30pm-4.30pm during second Semester.
Field trips form a compulsory part of this Course, and will take place on Mondays.
You will be informed of the relevant all-day Field Trips when you receive your Timetable at the beginning of Semester.
 

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Students will be introduced to a number of Online planning resources such as DSE interactive maps and Google Earth.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course may include reports, assignments, tests individual and group project work

Assessment Tasks

There are 3 compulsory Assessment tasks for this Course. The first is an ’Hurdle’ task.

Assessment 1: Review a Management Plan (Ungraded task, CA / NYC). Due date: 26th July
This assessment requires you to access a management plan for an area that interests you personally; to summarise plan details including its objectives, major stakeholders, major issues identified in the plan and a personal assessment of the management prescriptions and the likelihood of their success in preserving the stated values of the Park.

Assessment 2: Site Assessment / Existing Conditions Report (Graded:NYC, CA, CC, CDI, CHD) Due Date: 16th August
Students are required to use research and map production skills to: record and map identified landscape values; Record cadastral and historic modifications to the site; the physical condition of the site; and the biological characteristics of the site.

Assessment 3: Draft and ’published’ Management Plan for a designated area (Graded Assessment: NYC; CA; CC; CDI; CHD) Due Date: (Draft) 14th October; (Final Plan): 1st November.
Students will prepare a major assessment piece: a Management Plan that preserves and enhances identified values, while responding in a creative and cost effective manner to the interests of a variety of stakeholders and their interests. Feedback from Stakeholders will inform the final ’published’ Management Plan.
 

Students must be competent in each assessment to pass this course

Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Extension of time for submission of assessable work- A student may apply for an extension of up to 7 days from the original due date. They must lodge the application form (available on the web http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf ) at least the day before the due date. The application is lodged with the School Admin Office on Level 6, Bdg 51. Students requiring longer extensions must apply for Special Consideration (form available on the Web). For missed assessments such as exams- you (& your doctor if you are sick) must fill out a special consideration form. This form must be lodged at the HUB or online with supporting evidence (eg medical certificate), prior to, or within, 48 hours of the scheduled time of examination.

Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension will not be corrected

If you miss an assessment task due to unavoidable circumstances, you need to follow the procedure of special consideration and apply within the allowed time frame.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview