Course Title: Develop and review catchment management plan
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2012
Course Code: CIVE5716C
Course Title: Develop and review catchment management plan
School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5161 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management
Course Contact: Robyn Allan
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254932
Course Contact Email: robyn.allan@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 100
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 no pre-requisites
Course Description
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to develop and review catchment management plans that impact on water yield and/or quality.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
NWP513B Develop and review catchment management plan |
Element: |
1 Prepare for catchment management. |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Identify and interpret catchment management requirements. |
Element: |
2. Develop the catchment management plan |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Identify, interpret and validate stakeholder requirements that impact on the catchment area. |
Element: |
3. Review and refine the catchment management plan |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Assess data from the ongoing implementation of the catchment management plan and use to inform the review of the plan. |
Learning Outcomes
This is a competency based program
Details of Learning Activities
The following learning activities will be utilised:
- lecture (40 hours)
- classroom discussion (20 hours)
- brain storming (10 hours)
- video (4 hours)
- guest speakers (3 hours)
- field trips (20 hours)
- computer simulation exercise (3 hours)
Teaching Schedule
MONDAY 9.30 – 12.30
Week 1 16/7/12 Introduction to unit.
What is a catchment?
History of water management in Victoria
Week 2 23/7/12 Fundamental processes of catchments
Week 3 30/7/12 Background to the Dandenong catchment
Week 4 6/8/12 Field Trip: Mid Catchment
Week 5 13/8/12 Field Trip: Upper Catchment
Week 6 20/7/12 Mid Catchment – rural uses, inputs and outputs
Week 7 27/8/12 Role of Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management
Authority – Guest Speaker: Ian Morgans
Assessment 1 - Due
Week 8 3/9/12 Lower Catchment – the impact of development on catchment management
Week 9 10/9/12 Lower Catchment continued
Week 10 17/9/12 Detox a catchment - Lab prac (computer simulation exercise)
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Week 11 1/10/12 CAMP
Week 12 8/10/12 Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) – Guest speaker
Week 13 15/10/12 Retro Fitting of Melbourne’s Stormwater
Week 14 22/10/12 Field Trip: Eastern Treatment Plant
Assessment 2 due
Week 15 29/10/12 Class reviews catchment plans (Assessment task 3)
Week 16 5/11/12 No scheduled class
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Students will be directed to use current reports and studies that are located on government websites, particulalrly, Melbourne Water, Port Phillip Westernport Catchment Management Authority, Waterwatch, EPA, Department Sustrainability and Environment ad Department Primary Industries.
Overview of Assessment
Thassessment for this course will include assignments, group projects and reports
Assessment Tasks
Assessment Task 1
ELEMENT 1: Prepare for catchment management.
Using the criteria listed below as a general guide, prepare a table that identifies and evaluates the main issues and requirements of the Dandenong catchment in relation to water quality and quantity. This assessment should be undertaken over the first 5 weeks of the course as we concentrate on the Dandenong Catchment. The evaluation should include an assessment of current condition and requirements that impact on the catchment area.
Catchment Management requirements:
- relevant legislation
- relevant strategies
- organisational needs
User and customer requirements:
- recreational users of the catchment area
- forestry and land management authorities
- farmers
- traditional land owners
- developers/home owners
- water consumers
- water authorities
Historical Catchment information:
- relevant hydrological information
- previous studies and risk assessments
- vegetation surveys
- geological data
- anecdotal information from local residents/landholders
Environmental factors:
- flora and fauna
- chemicals
- land degradation
- fire
- farming practices
- land use
Other issues:
- existence of known cultural sites
- land use patterns
- human activity
Assessment Task 2
ELEMENT 2: Develop the catchment management plan.
Work in groups of 3.
Using the knowledge that you have gained from theory and practical classes, along with the guidelines listed below, you are to develop a mini catchment management plan for one of the major reaches of the Dandenong Creek – Upper, Middle or Lower.
The plan should demonstrate the following:
• An understanding of underpinning knowledge related to catchments and their management.
• An understanding of setting goals and objectives using SMART methodology.
• The identification of stakeholder requirements that impact on management of the catchment.
• An understanding of the organisational objectives of Melbourne Water in relation to water quantity and quality.
The documented plan must follow the format set out below:
Overview:
Description of the catchment – land and water resources and how they are used
Relevant History
Relevant legislation
Melbourne Water’s Organisational charter
Stakeholder requirements:
Who are the main stakeholders?
What are their needs?
Issues to be addressed:
Outline 2 issues that need to be addressed to effectively manage the catchment for water quality and quantity.
Goals and objectives:
Provide 2 goals along with objectives to achieve them for the catchment
The use of SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time bound) methodology must be evident
Implementation:
Provide an outline of how the goals and objectives will be implemented and who should be the responsible bodies
Monitoring and evaluation:
As outlined in your SMART targets – explain how the goals and objectives will be monitored.
Appendices:
Maps
Tables etc
NB: A formal meeting between student groups and the teacher will be scheduled during the semester to assess the development of their plan, group dynamics and to address any other issues arising.
Assessment Task 3
ELEMENT 3: Review and refine the management plan
Work in groups of 3.
You will be asked to review a management plan written by another group of students. You are to present your review to the class using a PowerPoint and oral presentation.
Your review should cover the following criteria:
• A review of the general layout and composition of the plan.
Is the layout clear and well written?
• A review of the goals and objectives of the plan in light of SMART target methodology
Are the goals and objectives clear? How well do they target the defined issues/problem?
Can the SMART methodology be applied to them?
• A review of the implementation methods.
How are the goal/objectives to be implemented? Is this realistic?
Should other avenues have been considered?
• Make recommendations for changes to goals, objectives and implementation processes.
Provide any ideas that might assist in refining goals, objectives and implementation of these.
• Provide constructive critique on any aspects of the plan.
Outline and justify positive aspects of the plan and areas that could be improved upon.
Assessment Matrix
Course Overview: Access Course Overview