The Northern Territory Government says property owners in Alice Springs
affected by a bungled sacred site search may be compensated for the cost
of their properties.

An Alice Springs couple was told this month by the Aboriginal Areas
Protection Authority that half of their block of land has been declared a
sacred site.

The couple was told there were no registered sites when they bought the
land.

Talking to the ABC, the assistant Minister for Indigenous Affairs, John Ah
Kit, says full compensation might be paid.

"That's a possibility but I can't, I can't pre-empt the outcome of that, I
need to make it clear that it was a serious error and I regret the hurt
that such a stupid mistake has caused to the property owners in question,"
he said.