the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Bill to the National Assembly, Cape
Town
13 September 2007
Madame Speaker,
Honourable Members
The purpose of the Astronomy Geographic Advantage (AGA) Bill is to provide
for the preservation and protection of areas within the Republic that are
uniquely suited for optical and radio astronomy.
The objects of the AGA Bill are to:
* provide measures to advance astronomy and related scientific endeavours in
the Republic,
* develop the skills, capabilities and expertise of those engaged in astronomy
and related scientific endeavours in Southern Africa,
* identify and protect areas in which astronomy projects of national strategic
importance can be undertaken,
* provide a framework for the establishment of a national system of astronomy
advantage areas in the republic, to ensure that the geographic areas in the
republic, which are highly suitable for astronomy and related scientific
endeavours due to, for example, high atmospheric transparency, low levels of
light pollution, low population density or minimal radio frequency interference
are protected, preserved and properly maintained,
* regulate activities which cause, or could cause, light pollution or radio
frequency interference or interfere in any other way with astronomy and related
scientific endeavours in those areas,
* provide for the declaration and management of astronomy advantage
areas,
* enable the Minister to participate in efforts to preserve the astronomy
advantage of Southern Africa, and to co-ordinate astronomy within this
area.
Towards the end of 2005, the Astronomy Geographic Advantage (AGA) Bill was
approved for consultations by Cabinet. Subsequent to this approval, extensive
consultations were conducted with government departments, public sector
entities, national operators, including role players in telecommunications and
broadcasting, and other identified key entities.
The overall consultation process included meetings with municipalities and
communities that are going to be directly impacted by the AGA Bill. To ensure
continuation of consultations with a wide array of interested parties, my
department has established a Stakeholder Forum and a Regulations Advisory
Committee.
The following are some of the benefits that could be derived through the
implementation of such a Bill:
* to protect large-scale global investments already made in astronomy,
* to preserve an environment for a global astronomy hub that will continue to
attract international investments,
* to provide a competitive advantage for South Africa to become the preferred
host of the full Square Kilometre Array.
Indirectly, the declaration of astronomy advantage areas, which will
preserve suitable astronomy observation sites, will have an impact on the
following:
* the development of the human capital in astronomy and related areas in
Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation,
* the laying out of the relevant infrastructure nationally with concentrated
efforts in the Northern Cape.
Finally, it is worth noting that the astronomy facilities are best located
in very low population density areas to minimise their impact on South
Africans, and to maintain low interference to the telescopes by human
activities. Southern Africa has made significant strides in participating
meaningfully in large-scale astronomy projects. These include the Southern
African Large Telescope (SALT) in Sutherland, the High Energy Stereoscopic
System (HESS) in Namibia and the current initiative to host the Square
Kilometre Array I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude
to the Deputy Minister, Derek Hanekom, the Portfolio Committee led by the
outgoing Chairperson Honourable N Ngcobo, the Director-General, Dr Phil Mjwara,
the management team and staff of the department for working as a collective in
the drafting and consultative processes of this Bill. Madam Speaker, allow me
to table the Astronomy Geographic Advantage (AGA) Bill and to accordingly
request the approval thereof by the House.
Thank you
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
13 September 2007
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)
