For the past six months, Cr Colacino has been pushing to have the airport named after Illawarra flight pioneer Lawrence Hargrave, in recognition of his wing inventions which helped the Wright Brothers take their first flight.

But this week, in a campaign with Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, Mr Abbott said ‘‘Bradfield Airport’’ would be the most fitting name.

Bradfield was the engineer behind the Sydney Harbour Bridge and its surrounding roads, as well as Sydney’s inner city railway network.

He also helped to establish a civil aviation school during World War I, and was behind Brisbane’s Story Bridge and the Cataract Dam.

While he recognised these achievements, Cr Colacino was crushed to read about the Prime Minister’s support of Bradfield as he believed Lawrence Hargrave International - or LHX - was a much more fitting name.

‘‘Bradfield was a great Australian, but he was a rail and road engineer,’’ he said.

‘‘Hargrave was the man on a world scale who got us into the air. He is recognised around the world as being the forefather of flight, and he stands tall as a world-recognised scientist.’’

‘‘There will be approach roads and rail leading to the airport and I see no reason why Bradfield should not give his name to those, given his brilliance in that sort of infrastructure.’’

Wollongong council has previously written to Mr Abbott and other politicians in support of the Hargrave campaign.

Cr Colacino said the council has received a response from the Prime Minister’s office noting Hargrave as ‘‘one of many options’’ available for the Badgerys Creek name.

Despite the high profile endorsement of Bradfield, Cr Colacino was adamant debate over the new airport’s name was not over.

He urged Illawarra residents and anyone else who believed the airport should be named after Hargrave to write to state and federal politicians outlining their case.

‘‘I will be seeking the opportunity to speak to the Prime Minister and explain to him why it’s so important we recognise this great Australian,’’ he said.