Alice Springs forum told of need for drinking areas

An Alice Springs native title holder has called for designated areas to be set up in the town for people to drink alcohol.

Betty Pearce has made the call at a forum on Indigenous issues involving Aboriginal organisations and government representatives.

The Alice Springs Town Council is applying for public areas to be declared dry.

Tangentyere Council has confirmed it will not apply for town camps to be alcohol free.

Ms Pearce told the forum there is already a problem developing with drinkers congregating near the Bond Springs airstrip north of the town.

"We must have drinking areas where people can be monitored, especially if they've got their kids with them," she said.

"Because if people are going to have their kids and they're drinking and the dry areas are in place where people have to go and stay somewhere else to drink, those kids will be at risk."