THE possibility of a new police station coming to Wallsend could be debated in the NSW Parliament in May, after more than 13,000 people signed a petition calling for its approval.
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Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery tabled the petition in Parliament last week after a long battle to get a new station installed in the booming suburb.
Wallsend falls in a boundary area between several local area commands and Ms Hornery said she had been approached by many concerned residents.
"Crime rates in the Hunter and poor response times are issues that are continually raised with me," she said.
"Wallsend electorate has no police station.
"The community is passionate about this issue and wants to see improvements and expansion of police presence in the western suburbs."
Police Minister Mike Gallacher will be due to respond to the petition within 35 days, before the debate takes place.
Ms Hornery, the shadow minister for the Hunter, said the Wallsend population was expanding in suburbs such as Maryland, Fletcher and Minmi, and that an increased police presence was inevitable.
She is hoping the matter will be debated in Parliament in May.
"The support from residents and businesses in Wallsend and surrounding suburbs has been overwhelming and I thank the community for their support in this important issue," she said.
"I call on the government to support this petition when it comes up for debate and say yes to a new police station."
Ms Hornery has been scoping out possible locations for the new police station and inspected a site at Maryland Drive, Maryland, earlier this month.