According to police from the Lake Illawarra Local Area Command, the 32-year-old victim suffered stab wounds to the torso.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated him at the scene, before he was flown to St George Hospital for surgery.  He was in a critical condition on Thursday morning.

Sergeant Mark Scott said said the incident happened just after 5pm yesterday when the two men continued an earlier dispute into a vacant block in Albion Park Rail.

It's alleged the accused man lunged forward with the pitch fork and also stabbing the victim three times, in the neck,chest and abdomen.

Police attended the scene and arrested the 42-year-old. He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm

Bail was refused and he will appear in Port Kembla Local Court today (Thursday).