Rutherford shopping mall, Maitland Heritage Mall, and Maitland train station will be equipped with a state-of-the-art wireless CCTV system after Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon secured the funds.

Rutherford will receive six cameras and the CBD and railway stations will have 11 between them.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the cameras would discourage vandalism and prevent crimes often committed in those areas.

“CCTV is at the heart of community safety. The wireless technology gives council a whole lot of monitoring options; someone could be sitting at a laptop and see what is happening,” he said. “The cameras will be positioned in the [Maitland Heritage] Mall so there will be a full view of the mall and parts of the river bank.”

Mr Fitzgibbon said the Rutherford community had been active in petitioning for CCTV cameras, as had Maitland City Council for the two malls and train station.

Mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore, had approached Mr Fitzgibbon about CCTV for the city, and he praised the MP for the excellent results.

“It’s something council has requested to have to catch offenders, and to have Rutherford mall, Maitland Heritage Mall and Maitland railway station covered in the $185,000 he has secured is great news for our community,” he said.

Cr Henry Meskauskas, another CCTV supporter, thanked Mr Fitzgibbon and the federal government for its support.

He said the government and Rutherford traders had worked hard to make Rutherford shopping centre a safer place.

The money has been allocated from the proceeds of crime fund.

If Labor loses the election the Coalition would be responsible for deciding whether the technology would still be allocated, Mr Fitzgibbon said.

He hoped Opposition Leader Tony Abbott would do the right thing and ensure the city received the money, should Labor not be victorious.