The Cairns Regional Council says it will try to delay the addition of fluoride to water in the region's north as residents prepare to take international court action.

A group of residents in the former Douglas Shire is planning to take action in the United Nations' International Court to prevent fluoride being added to their supply.

The area's councillor Julia Leu says the council will write to the Queensland Government requesting fluoridation be deferred for two years, pending the outcome of the action.

"The intention of the court proceedings is still in its early stages and I think it will be very interesting to see what is the outcome and it could well be some sort of landmark case," she said.

"I mean I think essentially it reflects the fact that the Douglas community is very opposed to chemicals in the water supply.

"They've done some research and they've informed me that they intend to take the Queensland Government to the Hague, which is the international court, on the basis that it is a violation of human rights to be subjected to the forced medication of fluoride."