Mayor Miller today said she was “totally surprised” at the furore which her comments on the railway bridge had whipped up yesterday.

“I think it was totally out of proportion to what I said,” she said.

“It was just one line at the end of the interview.”

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Council challenge on graffiti.

Only people power can save nachos.

Mayor Miller said during an interview on ABC Radio this week the heritage-listed bridge was overdue for a re-paint.

When questioned on the iconic status of the “Jesus loves nachos” graffiti, Mayor Miller said she believed the slogan had been worn away by exposure to weather.

Alderman Toni-Tapp Coutts told Katherine Times yesterday she had registered a trademark for the graffiti, sold T-shirts with the slogan and believed Katherine residents wanted it to stay.

Alderman Tapp-Coutts said she would initiate a council debate on the graffiti and she personally favoured “re-touching” the fading graffiti.

Mayor Miller said the bridge was an eyesore on the northern entrance to Katherine.

“Something needs to be done,” she said.

She said the re-painting of the bridge had been discussed for more than a decade.

Because of the bridge’s existing lead-based paint, it would an expensive process to overhaul the look of the bridge while keeping the heritage colours, she said.

“It has nearly gone anyway, I can barely read it,” she said of the graffiti.

There was a public outpouring of support for the graffiti through the Katherine Times’ Facebook page yesterday.

Mayor Miller said the council had future plans for an event centre on the Ryan Park end of the bridge to progress development in Katherine.

She said the graffiti had not been a priority for council.

“I have found the debate interesting and I have found Alderman Tapp-Coutts’ comments interesting as well,” she said.

Alderman Tapp-Coutts plans to raised the issue at Tuesday night’s council meeting.