Conservation Earthworks
Overview
The Conservation Earthworks industry is involved in the design and construction of earthworks associated with soil conservation and erosion and sediment control on rural and urban construction sites. Areas of work include: undertaking erosion and sediment control, planning and constructing rural earthworks, earthmoving in natural areas, specialist services, working with rural communities, assisting with agency policy and planning development, responding to emergencies, carrying out field calculations and using measuring equipment, and management of properties and structures.
| Level | Job Role | Recommended Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | Conservation Earthworks Operator | Certificate II in Conservation & Land Management (Conservation Earthworks) |
| Level 3 | Senior Conservation Earthworks Operator | Certificate III in Conservation & Land Management (Conservation Earthworks) |
| Level 4 | Conservation Earthworks Supervisor | Certificate IV in Conservation & Land Management (Conservation Earthworks) |
| Level 5 | Manager/Owner Operator/Contratcor | Diploma of Conservation & Land Management (Conservation Earthworks) |
Level 2 - Conservation earthworks operator
The work undertaken by a level 2 conservation earthworks operator is partly supervised and may require some or all of the following tasks to be performed:
- Carry out erosion and sediment control work using specialist earthmoving plant such as scrapers, bulldozers, graders, front end loaders, shovel-excavators and haul trucks.
- Operating a range of vehicles and equipment, which could include tractors, 4x4 vehicles and chainsaws. and earthmoving machinery such as
- Maintaining machinery and equipment including cleaning
- Safely using chemicals to treat weeds.
- Working in remote and isolated areas using map reading and radio communication skills.
- Carry out revegetation works and planting of sites.
- Assisting with fire prevention, fire fighting and cleaning up activities.
Level 3 - Senior Earthworks Operator
A Senior Earthworks Operator is a skilled worker who can work effectively on their own or as part of a team and may be required to undertake some or all of the following tasks:
- Constructing conservation earthworks such as farm dams, rural waterways, contour banks, and access/fire tracks.
- Implementing erosion and sediment control measures such as deep ripping, contour banks, drainage lines, and tree planting.
- Operating, maintaining and transporting large earthmoving machinery and equipment.
- Applying technical skills such as map reading, testing water quality, surveying, and using, handling and transporting chemicals, and determining soil properties and soil types
- Undertaking fire prevention, fire fighting and cleaning up activities.
Level 4 - Conservation Earthworks Supervisor
A Conservation Earthworks Supervisor will usually be responsible for a team of workers and may be required to undertake some or all of the following tasks:
- Daily supervision of staff engaged in construction activities with responsibility for their safety and work performance. This will also include on-job training of staff.
- Supervising construction and erosion and sediment control work
- Liaising with and providing information to the media, community and special interest groups.
- Planning, scheduling, costing and organising construction, and erosion and sediment control work.
- Supervising maintenance of machinery and equipment
Planning and implementing the use of chemicals in weed control and revegetation work.
Level 5 - Manager/Contractor /Owner Operator
A Manager/Contractor will usually be responsible for operational management of a conservation earthworks business and may be required to undertake some or all of the following tasks:
- Designing and planning conservation earthworks and erosion and sediment control measures.
- Overall management responsibility as a contractor, or on behalf of an agency, including managing business operations and human resources.
- Preparing and monitoring budgets and financial reports.
- Conserving soil and water resources through implementing management plans and strategies.
- Manage projects and programs such as rural earthworks, restoration of bushland, reduction of wildfire hazards and controlling weed infestations.
- Preparing and submitting reports, estimates and tenders for work.
- Provide specialist advice to clients on soils, water and conservation earthworks.