Health and environment groups in the Territory are calling on both political parties to commit to stop any mining activity at the Angela Pamela uranium deposit.

A mining company currently has an exploration licence on the site, 20 kilometres south of Alice Springs, but the project has been idle since 2010.

Clive Rosewarne from the Public Health Association says whoever is elected to government should use powers under the Mineral Titles Act to force the surrender of the exploration licence.

"At any stage exploration could start up there," he said.

"What we really need is the minister to ask the company to surrender the licence because it's not going to go ahead, in their view, and then to protect the site."

"At the moment we're just in a moth-ball mode, which isn't giving long-term certainty.

"Exploration could start up, as the company has mentioned once or twice in the past 12 months, at any time"

Territory Labor says it is opposed to any mining at the site.

But Resources Minister Kon Vatskalis has defended the exploration permit, saying it does not automatically mean mining will go ahead.

The Country Liberals have said they encourage all applications for uranium development in the Territory, but are opposed the Angela Pamela site because of its proximity to the town.

A party spokesperson says it will not revoke the exploration permit if it wins the election.