pearcey
5th December 2020, 12:10 PM
Alice Springs Mparntwe Tjoritja Forum
is at Mount Gillen
.
YnesecstShSguiptoancermsturrfoday rat 9ef:2oe4 lAMd ·
The very mountain that is the heart of Alice Springs, the iconic Mt Gillen (Alhekulyele) is in the middle of every photograph of the town.
It is now a no-go area in compliance with demands from Arrernte traditional custodians.
However, the no-go area is not just the trail and the mountain top, it is basically the whole range.
That area starts at Heavitree Gap (Ntaripe) in the east, the rail and road thoroughfare into the town, and stretches all the way to Honeymoon Gap, 13 kilometres to the west.
It includes all that is between the foot of the range, along Bradshaw and Larapinta Drives in the north; right up to the top of the mountain and down its southern flank, to the back yards of the Ilparpa rural area.
It is the very centre of the local government area of Alice Springs, its most spectacular natural asset – incomprehensibly all but ignored by successive town councils except for use as a rubbish dump at its south-eastern corner.
The lock-up of the area follows secret meetings over several years by a handful of men who handed down the decision via the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA).
Its instructions – it appears – have to be complied with by the NT Government whose national parks service manages the area.
The track from Flynn’s Grave to the top is being used by about 300 walkers a week and has been flagged as a key tourist attraction, potentially extending the stay by visitors for several days, enjoying a string of gullies and ravines as close as five minutes’ drive from the CBD, or five minutes’ walk from the tourism precinct.
The climb to the top from the south takes about two hours, in shaded gullies, past waterholes, callitris pines, spearwood, wildflowers like Isotomas, up the rocky slopes, rivalling King’s Canyon in beauty (but that’s a 900 km round-trip).
Looking west from the summit takes one’s breath away – a vista into the West MacDonnell Ranges on one side, and the town on the other.
There have been countless proposals for the picturesque area, including restaurants to the top and a cable car from the Desert Park.
The shock announcement of the trail closure, with no mention of the entire area closure – has everyone fooled, whilst the government is trying to revive the economy with more tourists.
You are now not allowed anywhere near the whole range.
Story by Erwin Chlanda for Alice Springs News
https://alicespringsnews.com.au/.../alice-springs-to.../
*** The walk will officially close on Monday, 01st March 1, 2021, with fines of up $31,600 for ignoring the ban.
is at Mount Gillen
.
YnesecstShSguiptoancermsturrfoday rat 9ef:2oe4 lAMd ·
The very mountain that is the heart of Alice Springs, the iconic Mt Gillen (Alhekulyele) is in the middle of every photograph of the town.
It is now a no-go area in compliance with demands from Arrernte traditional custodians.
However, the no-go area is not just the trail and the mountain top, it is basically the whole range.
That area starts at Heavitree Gap (Ntaripe) in the east, the rail and road thoroughfare into the town, and stretches all the way to Honeymoon Gap, 13 kilometres to the west.
It includes all that is between the foot of the range, along Bradshaw and Larapinta Drives in the north; right up to the top of the mountain and down its southern flank, to the back yards of the Ilparpa rural area.
It is the very centre of the local government area of Alice Springs, its most spectacular natural asset – incomprehensibly all but ignored by successive town councils except for use as a rubbish dump at its south-eastern corner.
The lock-up of the area follows secret meetings over several years by a handful of men who handed down the decision via the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA).
Its instructions – it appears – have to be complied with by the NT Government whose national parks service manages the area.
The track from Flynn’s Grave to the top is being used by about 300 walkers a week and has been flagged as a key tourist attraction, potentially extending the stay by visitors for several days, enjoying a string of gullies and ravines as close as five minutes’ drive from the CBD, or five minutes’ walk from the tourism precinct.
The climb to the top from the south takes about two hours, in shaded gullies, past waterholes, callitris pines, spearwood, wildflowers like Isotomas, up the rocky slopes, rivalling King’s Canyon in beauty (but that’s a 900 km round-trip).
Looking west from the summit takes one’s breath away – a vista into the West MacDonnell Ranges on one side, and the town on the other.
There have been countless proposals for the picturesque area, including restaurants to the top and a cable car from the Desert Park.
The shock announcement of the trail closure, with no mention of the entire area closure – has everyone fooled, whilst the government is trying to revive the economy with more tourists.
You are now not allowed anywhere near the whole range.
Story by Erwin Chlanda for Alice Springs News
https://alicespringsnews.com.au/.../alice-springs-to.../
*** The walk will officially close on Monday, 01st March 1, 2021, with fines of up $31,600 for ignoring the ban.