Former Alice deputy mayor Steve Brown says he will run for office because of ‘arrogant’ Mt Gillen decision

A FORMER deputy mayor of Alice Springs has announced he will campaign for mayor, running on a platform of fighting the closure of Mt Gillen to hikers

• Mt Gillen hikers to be banned at request of traditional custodians and for safety concerns
• Anger at decision to ban hiking on Mt Gillen

FORMER deputy mayor of Alice Springs Steve Brown has announced he will run for mayor this year on a platform of addressing youth crime and contesting the imminent closure of the Mt Gillen track.

Mr Brown announced his candidacy in a statement to media at the weekend.

He said he felt compelled to run following the decision in December last year to declare Mt Gillen a sacred site at the request of Traditional Owners, thus closing the Mt Gillen track to hikers.

Mr Brown believes the closure was mishandled, labelling it ”at best (a) naïve and thoughtless (or) at worst a grotesquely stupid, arrogant, and deliberately divisive act.”

He expressed concern at the apparent lack of community consultation prior to the decision being finalised.

He told the ABC he would defy the ban, which comes into effect from March 1. Those hiking the Mt Gillen track could incur a fine of up to $31,600 from that date.

Mr Brown also told the ABC the current council had failed to show leadership on the issue.

“I’m saddened that members of council haven’t felt free to come out and speak on this issue,” Mr Brown said.

“And if they were to ask the constituents and walk around town and talk to people they’d find out there’s an awful lot of burning anger about this decision.”

Mr Brown said the other key issue that he would be running on is youth crime.

“The economy and everything depends on people feeling safe in their homes,” he said.

“And we have to stop this feeling people have of wanting to leave (the town). It absolutely must be addressed and dealt with by council. They have the power to get people together and get things moving.”

Mr Brown told the NT News the solution must start with the establishment of a centrally located, permanent 24/7 youth hub, modelled on the Police Citizens Youth Clubs of NSW.

“If you have a place like this, then you don’t need a curfew. I think council should get involved with it.

“I see no reason why the council can’t be coordinator and get this thing off the ground.”

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Mr Brown becomes the third person to confirm they will definitely contest the mayoralty at August’s local government elections, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Cocking and Jamie de Brenni.

Eli Melky remains a likely, but as yet unconfirmed, fourth candidate.

Current mayor Damien Ryan has not declared his intentions.