Mr Stoner said 154 vital, potentially life-saving air ambulance movements were made at the Kempsey Airport last financial year.

Mr Stoner has thrown his support behind a push to keep Kempsey Airport from closing.

This comes after Kempsey Shire Council general manager David Rawlings recommended a ‘staged withdrawal’ from the airport earlier this month.

The recommendation included suggestions to draw up a business case for the land, which would allow for future development opportunities.

Mr Stoner said the Kempsey Airport is not only a valuable community asset, but a vital local link for patients needing transfer to and from the larger hospitals.

“It is simply not acceptable for patients to be forced to travel by road ambulance on the deadly Pacific Hwy to Port Macquarie or Coffs Harbour for what could be life saving transfer by air ambulance,” he said.

“The airport must be retained and maintained at least to its current level with possibility of upgrade in the near future.”

Mr Stoner obtained documents about the airport via the Freedom of Information Act.

They show air ambulance movements for previous financial years in- cluded:

2005-2006 - 103 movements.

2006-2007 - 130 movements.

2007-2008 - 122 movements.

Mr Stoner said the council needed to go back to the drawing board.

“There could well be opportunity to expand commercial ventures such as professional pilot training and aircraft maintenance, with minimal upgrade of the infrastructure,” he said.

“Kempsey simply cannot afford to lose any more of its vital assets.”

Councillors opted to defer a decision at October’s monthly meeting on the future of Kempsey Airport.