Alice Springs Mayor Matt Paterson says there was an influx of visitors, illegal camping and crime over the weekend which he believes is linked to the footy finals.

He told Katie Woolf the Council moved a motion on Tuesday to stop finals being played on its grounds, which will commence next year when the community AFLNT season begins.

Mayor Paterson says crime also spiked when the Alice Springs show was on and the Council needs to act to ensure community safety.

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