But the decision has opponents seeing red.

The club is keen to allay fears - particularly from those living nearby at Aldavilla - over noise, safety and public order and insists there are strict regulations and conditions imposed on hosting a race meeting.

Its secretary, Peter Campbell, said it would take many months of planning alone to meet strict conditions imposed by the council, the Australian National Drag Racing Association, and air authorities.

"We had to address guidelines set out by the council in our development application," he said.

"The Four Aces Drag Racing Club has set high standards for noise and traffic mitigation beyond the minimum requirements."

But Aldavilla resident Maree Williams, who organised a well attended public meeting in February last year to oppose a previous development application, intends to step up the campaign against any drag racing event at the airport.

"One thing we're doing is getting an audio engineer to record decibel levels," she said.

"The main point is it's an airport and I've noticed in the last six months it has been busier, with air ambulances there nearly every day, somtimes continuously."

Mrs Williams is concerned about the potential danger to vital air services such as the air ambulance and bushfire control.

She is also concerned about public order and safety.

"There are young children riding horses here (at Aldavilla) on weekends, and the horses can get upset (by loud noise levels)," Mrs Williams said.

She highlighted incidents in Melbourne in which young people had held street drag races and got involved in smashing shop windows.

"I think it's a public safety issue," Mrs Williams continued.

"It encourages young people to watch races, drink alcohol and take drugs."

She said she had received a steady stream of phone calls voicing opposition to the drag racing event.

Mr Campbell said there would be a strict no-alcohol/no-drugs policy at the event and the club would employ a licensed security firm to police the meeting.

Mrs Williams said she had made a submission to the council to speak at the meeting, but had not been informed the matter was to be discussed at Tuesday's monthly meeting.

At that meeting, a development application for the event was granted by a margin of four votes to three.

Barrie Bishton, president of the Kempsey Flying Club - who was speaking at the meeting in a personal capacity - warned of the potential damage to the runway over the long-term if regular events were held at the airport.

"This aerodrome is for aircraft, not vehicles," he said. "This is a classic example of the communist policy of change by incrementalism."

Mr Bishton said torque from the wide tyres and strong acceleration from cars could damage the surface, whereas aircraft got power from propellors or turbo-props and there was little impact from their small tyres.

Cr Dean Saul argued air ambulance and bushfire control services could be jeopardised.

Cr Betty Green led the support for the event's hosting, saying she was satisfied the restrictions imposed were more than enough to safeguard airport operations.

Cr Bruce Morris called for the club to notify everyone living within 2km of the airport.

Mr Campbell said the club had taken it upon itself to restrict both entrant numbers and vehicle decibel levels.

"We've set a self-imposed limit of 98dB for all cars at Kempsey," he said.

"A Harley Davidson is upwards of 105dB.

"There's a twin-winged Tiger Moth aircraft that that exceeds our self-imposed levels."

He invited anyone with concerns to attend the club's next meeting next Tuesday (October 2), at the Hotel Kempsey, Belgrave St, from 7.30pm.