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Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act, 2007 (Act No. 21 of 2007)

Chapter 2 : Declaration of Astronomy Advantage Areas

Part 1 : Core astronomy advantage areas

7. Declaration of core astronomy advantage area

 

(1)        The Minister may—

(a) declare a specified area as—
(ii) part of an existing core astronomy advantage area;
(b) assign a name to such core astronomy advantage area; and
(c) designate the area as a core astronomy advantage area in respect of astronomy and related scientific endeavours.

 

(2) A declaration under subsection (1)(a) may only be issued—
(a) in respect of an area declared under section 5(1) or designated under section 5(2);
(b) to provide protection from light pollution, radio frequency interference and other activities which may affect astronomy and related scientific endeavours or astronomy advantage to an area in which radio or optical astronomy is conducted or will be conducted;
(c) to protect an area in which part or all of an astronomy device is situated or may in future be situated; or
(d) to make an area primarily available for scientific research.

 

(3) In addition to subsection (2), a declaration under subsection (1)(a) may only be issued if the Minister has, prior to the declaration—
(a) conducted a public participation process in terms of section 42 and the Minister has in conducting this process compiled a permanent register of interested and affected parties for the core astronomy advantage area;
(b) sent any relevant private land owner within the proposed core astronomy advantage area a copy of the proposed declaration, prior to the commencement of the public participation process, by registered post to the last known postal address of the land owner; and
(c) where possible informed in an appropriate manner any other lawful occupier of the land within the proposed core astronomy advantage area of the proposed declaration and the public participation process.

 

(4) In making a declaration under subsection (1)(a), the Minister may identify the land that is subject to the declaration through the use of coordinates, a map, a property description, or a combination of these.