He says the replica of the plane that made an emergency landing at Albury on the last leg of the 1934 London to Melbourne air race was too important to the city and history to be raffled off.

Albury Council launched a national advertising campaign last month calling for expressions of interest in the plane.

It has been insured for $250,000 but the true value of the plane is yet to be determined. The cost of restoring it could be $500,000.

Expressions of interest close on July 29.

But Mr Emmery has joined aviation buff Howard Hinde in calling for a decision on the Uiver to be deferred until after the September council election.

He believes all options should be reconsidered.

“The time frame for the council’s decision was too short, there is no rush to do this,” Mr Emmery said.

“This is an important part of Albury’s and aviation history.

“My grandfather was one of the people to come to the racetrack in his Model T Ford and light up the runway so the plane could land.

“No decision should be made until a new council is elected, one with new blood, fresh eyes.”

Mr Emmery said the $500,000 repair cost was not necessarily a deterrent.

“Council was able to find $2 million to buy the parish centre in QEII Square, I’m sure it can budget for this,” he said.

“It seems the greatest stumbling block is the need for the plane to be kept out of the weather.

“But there are technologies today that can do that without building a massive hangar.”

In 1934 Albury residents were called to the racetrack to use car headlights to light up a temporary runway for the hopelessly lost original Uiver.