Environmentalists have launched a campaign to have the $5 billion Koongarra uranium deposit formally incorporated into Kakadu National Park.

Koongarra is just three kilometres from the sacred rock art at Nourlangie, but despite being surrounded by Kakadu National Park, the deposit is not part of the park.

The French company Areva has asked to mine 14,000 tonnes of uranium at the site, only to be frustrated by its traditional owner.

Jeffrey Lee wants Koongarra incorporated into Kakadu, and the Australian Conservation Foundation says it is high time that happened.

"It's in a most beautiful part of Kakadu, it just shouldn't go ahead," he says.

Under Commonwealth laws, the Northern Land Council must ask Mr Lee if he wants the site mined by next June.

After that has happened, the Commonwealth can consider absorbing it into Kakadu.