Whanganui District councillor Charlie Anderson wants any flood mitigation for Onetere Drive to be treated first and foremost as a roading issue - particularly around access to the airport.
On Tuesday the council voted to investigate stop banks to protect houses on the flood-prone area.
But when the area flooded in June 2015 it also inundated a part of Wikitoria Rd on the way to the airport.
Mr Anderson said a pilot had to wade through water to get to the airport for a organ transfer.
The road was never officially closed but was impassable to regular vehicles for between two and six hours.