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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 29 Jun 2008 Title: Mbeki signs Astronomy Geographic Advantage Bill -------------------- By Edwin Tshivhidzo, tel: (012) 314-2454 Cape Town - President Thabo Mbeki has approved a new law which will place the country among the world's leading nations in the protection of national and international science infrastructure investments. The Astronomy Geographic Advantage Bill was signed by the President in Cape Town this week. Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena introduced the Bill to the National Assembly last year after it was finalised towards the end of 2005. 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 Bill gives wide-ranging powers to the minister to ensure that geographic areas within South Africa, particularly those in low-population density areas and which are highly suitable for astronomy, are protected in the long term with regard to such matters as radio frequency interferences and factors that could affect light pollution. According to the department, the Bill gives Mr Mangena the power to declare "astronomy areas" in order to ensure that large scale and globally important astronomy facilities are protected from developments that might interfere with their research activities. "The benefits of the legislation include the protection of large-scale investments already made in astronomy, preservation of an environment for a global astronomy hub that will continue to attract international investment," the department said. This will also result in the provision of a competitive advantage to help South Africa become the preferred host of the full Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope in the Northern Cape as well as the Southern African Large Telescope, the largest single optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. "This marks a tremendous boost for our international bid to host the SKA, which is likely to be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the next two decades, consisting of thousands of dishes between 10 and 15 metres in diameter," said Dr Bernie Fanaroff, project manager of South Africa's bid to host the SKA. South Africa and Australia have been shortlisted to host the SKA. South Africa is offering a site in the Karoo, in the Northern Cape. It is now expected that the decision on which country will host the SKA will be taken in 2011, instead of during this year, as originally intended. The Bill also provides for developing the skills, capabilities and expertise of those engaged in astronomy and related scientific endeavours in Southern Africa and identifying and protecting areas in which astronomy projects of national strategic importance can be undertaken. The new legislation will enhance the country's geographic advantage by restricting activities that cause or could cause light pollution or radio frequency interference, or might interfere in any other way with astronomy and related scientific endeavours in these areas. - BuaNews |
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