Mt Gillen in Alice Springs has officially been registered as a sacred site closing the site immediately with track removal occurring in March 2021.
At the request of traditional owners, access to the site is now restricted under the Aboriginal sacred sites act including the closure of the unauthorised walking track leading to the summit.
In addition, the authority certificate supplied by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) required to upgrade and repair the walk to transform it into a Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife official trail has been denied by traditional custodians.
These decisions will ultimately close the walk.
The track head will be removed as of March 1 next year at the request of the Mparntwe custodians with fines of up $31,600 for ignoring the ban issued by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority.
The trail starts adjacent to Flynn's grave and is a popular walking track for residents and tourists given the panoramic views of Alice Springs.
Benedict Stevens, a traditional custodian and spokesperson, welcomed the decision by the Northern Territory Government to close the trail.
"The climbing track never should have been there," Mr Stevens said.
"This site is central to Ayeye Akngwelye Mpartnwe-arenyethe — Dog Story of Alice Springs.
"The old people have asked for a long time for it to be closed."
Physical pain
Doris Stuart is also a custodian for sites in Alice Springs and said she felt physical pain when she knew people were walking up the ridge.
"I can't look that way towards where that [path] has been created by man," she said.
"It's like I've been scarred and that my rib cage has had the knife run across it."
She is relieved at the closure, yet hurt by the length of time it took to close the climb.
"We don't own it, it owns us," she said.
Environmental and safety concerns
Parks and Wildlife senior director Chris Day recognised the importance of the Akngwelye (Dog) sacred site.
"We understand the Mt Gillen climb is a popular activity, however the department respects and supports the wishes of the traditional custodians to stop access to protect sacred sites and for cultural sensitivity," he said.
He said that given the trail was not authorised and therefore not maintained there were "issues with erosion, creating safety and environmental concerns".
Mr Day said signage had been installed requesting that the public no longer use the scared site for recreational purposes.
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