The Public Health Association, the Council of Trade Unions, and the Arid Lands Environment Centre are calling on the Alice Springs town council to oppose the planned nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station.

Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek, has been put forward by the Federal Government as the best solution for the nation's nuclear waste.

The proposal has been strongly opposed by some traditional owners and environmentalists.

In a presentation to the council, Matthew Gardiner from the Council of Trade Unions said that the Northern Territory does not have the capacity to respond to a nuclear accident.

"If we have one container of nuclear waste it will take virtually every single firefighter to go up there and actually preserve that," he said.

"Unfortunately up here in the Alice Springs area you only have a handful of emergency responders. We don't have the technology to respond appropriately. We also don't have the skill base."

The groups want the Alice Springs Town Council to back calls for an independent inquiry into nuclear waste storage.

The Alice Springs Mayor Damien Ryan says he will not comment on the position the council might take.

Counsellor Eli Melky says he welcomes the information provided, but is warning against "scaremongering" over the the issue of waste disposal in the Northern Territory.

"I want to hear it from independent sources and I want to hear it from people who have genuine qualifications," he said.

"I think last night was certainly a start."

Clive Rosewarne from the Public Health Association says the groups are happy to provide the council with further information.