The Wanaka Stakeholders Group is threatening the Queenstown Lakes District Council with legal action over the proposed development of Wanaka Airport.
Chairman Michael Ross said yesterday the group had engaged solicitors and a Queen's Counsel ''to assist with the preparation of court proceedings should they be necessary''.
Mr Ross said the group's concern was over the council's statement of intent setting out what it required of the Queenstown Airport Corporation.
''The Wanaka Stakeholders Group is of the clear view that the actions and decisions taken, and various agreements apparently reached between QLDC and QAC in relation to the Wanaka Airport ... are unlawful,'' Mr Ross said.
He believed the confidential 100-year lease granted to QAC allowed it to ''alter and develop Wanaka Airport into a new and materially different airport operation''.
Mr Ross said judicial review proceedings could be commenced to establish the ''unlawfulness and unreasonableness'' of such decisions.
A letter has been sent to Mayor Jim Boult.
The council declined to respond yesterday.
