Acting lord mayor Chris Connor raised the motion at Monday night’s meeting, saying it was important for the council to make a statement on the pressing regional issue.

‘‘We’ve seen a great turn down in steel making at Port Kembla since the 1980s,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s been the heart and soul of our city here in Wollongong, and I know we are a city that’s transforming and transitioning at the moment.

‘‘But to take a hit of this magnitude straight off the bat would certainly dislocate part of that process that we’re in now, of transitioning to other industries. Wollongong council must take up the challenge and do our part of supporting this key local industry.’’

‘‘Countries around the world have actively protected their domestic capacity to produce steel – Australia has not been one of those.’’

Cr Connor said councillors should write to relevant ministers, MPs and unions, as well as exploring options outside the council’s usual tender process – which already prioritises local suppliers –  to ensure the use of local steel.

Likewise, Labor’s Ann Martin said councillors needed to make it clear that ‘‘we’re not ready to lose the steel works’’.

‘‘While we know we do have to plan for that possibility, but let’s hope it’s not on our watch,’’ she said.

Liberal councillor Leigh Colacino said it was important to take a bipartisan attitude towards the BlueScope situation and thanked Cr Connor for putting up the motion.

However, he also said he wanted the council to be careful about ‘‘putting a financial burden onto the residents of Wollongong by trying to support an industry’’.

The council’s general manager David Farmer said he, along with Cr Connor and other council staff, would be attending a meeting with BlueScope chief Paul O’Malley on Wednesday.

Councillors voted unanimously to support the motion.