A TWEED hairdresser is taking on the Gold Coast Airport in a legal battle likened to that of environmental activist Erin Brockovich.

Tweed Ratepayers' Association president Lindy Smith has postponed her ambitions to run for council, as she prepares to front the Administrative Appeals Tribunal over the airport's controversial plans to erect an Instrument Landing System.

"It was a very difficult decision for me, but it came down to the timing of the court proceedings and the time needed for me to prepare and lodge court documents - it's a mammoth task,” Ms Smith said.

Labelled "Erin Brockovich” by a retired barrister at a recent community meeting, Ms Smith first waged a David and Goliath battle against the government in 2014 when she realised the Crown land her pony club was located on at West Tweed, had been leased to the airport for 99 years without public consultation.

In June, the Tribunal ruled the hairdresser from West Tweed was able to stand as an applicant, despite a heavy legal challenge by her opponents, meaning she may eventually clash with top silks in the Commonwealth Law Court.

"It was really hard going, the airport and AirServices strongly contested the Alliance's standing, but we came through after a real barrage,” Ms Smith said.

Ms Smith's decision comes as a report obtained by The Greens has been released to the media showing the airport's soil, sediment and groundwater was riddled with toxic PFOS and PFOA chemicals at levels up to 6700 times the globally accepted maximum exposure limits.

The documents show GC Airport knew as early as 2008 about the groundwater contamination, but did not inform the public or relevant government departments, until after Ms Smith flagged the issue in the airport's recent Master Plan.

The 2008 report outlined there was "potential risk to the environment and human health due to soil” and found toxins had "migrated through soil and into groundwater at the site”.

"Even though they had confirmation this contamination was present they have not disclosed how much of the groundwater is contaminated,” Ms Smith said.

"And as we have found at Oakey and Williamtown, even small amounts had devastating impacts on the community and the environment.”

AirServices Australia and the Gold Coast Airport maintains there are no clear rules on managing emerging pollutants such as PFOA and PFOS.

The Tribunal hearing will be held in Brisbane on December 7, 2016.

An AirServices Australia spokesperson confirmed the 2008 study was provided to Queensland authorities, but not NSW authorities, or the community.

A copy of the study was provided to the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development in 2009.

The spokesperson said AirServices was working with the relevant government agencies on the issue, and "once in a position will make the relevant results available to the community".

"This will ensure that any health or environmental related questions can be answered by the appropriate authority," the spokesperson said.