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

Chapter 2 : Declaration of Astronomy Advantage Areas

Part 3 : Coordinated astronomy advantage areas

11. Declaration of coordinated astronomy advantage area
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(1)        The Minister may—

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

 

(2)More than one coordinated astronomy advantage area may be declared in respect of a particular area.

 

(3)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 regulate the area as a buffer zone or as one of the buffer zones for the protection of a core or central astronomy advantage area;
(c)to protect the area if it is sensitive to development due to its astronomy advantage and proximity to a core astronomy advantage area;
(d)to protect a specific astronomy advantage outside of a core or central astronomy advantage area;
(e)to ensure that development in the area does not negatively impact on the astronomy advantage of the area; or
(f)to control developments and changes in land use in the area if the area is earmarked for declaration as, or inclusion in, a core or central astronomy advantage area.

 

(4)In addition to subsection (2), a declaration under subsection (1)(a) may only be issued if the Minister—
(a)conducted a public participation process in terms of section 42 prior to the declaration; and
(b)in conducting the public participation process has compiled a permanent register of interested and affected parties for the coordinated astronomy advantage area.

 

(5)In making a declaration under subsection (1)(a) the Minister—
(a)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; and
(b)must seek, where possible, to make the declaration in respect of the whole, rather than part, of a municipal area designated in terms of the Municipal Demarcation Act.