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Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) at Ku-ring-gai Sportsgrounds and Community Facilities

In response to the Council resolution from the March 2026 regarding community access to Automated External Defibrilators (AEDs), a second report was considered at the June 2026 meeting.

The second report included expert health advice, feedback from the community, recommended placement criteria and an amended draft delivery plan.

At the June 2026 meeting, Council approved the implementation of AEDs across Council facilities at a total of 46 facilities, to be delivered in FY27-28. To recover the annual cost of the AEDs, Council has also approved revised fee increases. These would be phased in over two financial years starting from FY2026/2027, are in addition to the standard CPI based annual adjustment, and are summarised below:

  • For sports fields and tennis courts, an additional increase of 2.3% per year would apply in each of the two years.
    This increase is lower than the previously exhibited increases for sportsfields, but higher than the previously exhibited increases for tennis, reflecting the amended AED placement criteria.
  • Minor increases would also apply to community halls and meeting rooms (0.35% per year), golf course fees (0.15% per year) and Wildflower Garden venue hire fees (0.3% per year).

See the Council report for more information, including an amended delivery program and a summary of the delivery program costings, and view the meeting minutes for the full Council resolution.

About the project

What is an AED?

An AED (automated external defibrillator) is a portable device that delivers an electric shock to restart the heart during cardiac arrest. It is designed to be used by anyone - the device provides clear step-by-step audio and visual instructions, so no medical training is needed. Having an AED on site can make a real difference to survival outcomes in the critical minutes before an ambulance arrives.

What is Council planning?

Council has resolved to install up to 60 AEDs across its sportsgrounds, tennis courts and community facilities. Each unit will be permanently fixed in a publicly accessible cabinet, available to anyone in an emergency - not just during organised sport or booked activities.

How would the AEDs be funded?

To cover the cost of purchasing, installing and maintaining the AEDs, Council needs to recover approximately $174,000 per year. This will be achieved through a modest increase to hire fees, shared across sportsgrounds, tennis courts, and community building and hall hirers. Those affected include sporting clubs, fitness and training groups, dog training groups, community organisations and individual hirers.

It is proposed that these fee increases will be phased in over two financial years, commencing from 1 July 2026.

For each of the two financial years, the following increases will apply in addition to the standard CPI-based increase:

  • Sports fields hire fees: 5.75% per year
  • Tennis courts (including Pickleball) hire fees: 1.10% per year
  • Community halls & meeting rooms hire fees: 2.60% per year

The standard CPI based increase for 2026/27 is 3.9%.

Why are hirers being asked to contribute, rather than all ratepayers?

As the most regular users of Council's sportsground, tennis courts and community facilities, hirers are the group most likely to benefit directly from having an AED on site. Council considers it fair that the cost is shared by those who use the facilities most, rather than spread across the broader ratepayer base.

The AEDs will be publicly accessible at all times so that the wider community also benefits, at no direct cost to them.

Frequently asked questions

Anyone. The AEDs will be publicly accessible at all times — not just when organised sport is taking place.

No. AEDs are designed for use by the general public and provide step-by-step audio and visual instructions.

Council is proposing to install up to 60 AEDs across its sportsgrounds, tennis courts and community facilities. See the council report for more information.

Existing facilities that provide 24/7 externally accessible AEDs have been excluded from this draft delivery program. For risk, servicing and monitoring reasons, not all clubs and associations devices can be made publicly accessible and would be considered on a case- by-case basis.

Your feedback will be included in a report to Council to inform the final decision. If you would like to be notified of the outcome, please provide contact details in the survey or your submission.

These are the primary and most regular users of these facilities and are therefore the group most likely to benefit directly from having an AED on site.

Yes. General community members, including casual facility hirers and users, are encouraged to make written submissions as instructed on this page or through the Revised Delivery Program, Draft Operational Plan, and Revised Resourcing Strategy exhibition. The survey is gear towards regular hirers.

We encourage you to tell us through the survey below or providing a written submission  - quote reference number S09755/14 by:

  • Email: krg@krg.nsw.gov.au
  • Mail: General Manager, Ku-ring-gai Council, Locked Bag 1006 Gordon NSW 2072.

Have your say

Get involved

Community feedback on this proposal was open until Tuesday 26 May 2026.

What's next

From 1 July 2026 the fee increases would be introduced gradually over two years, with AED delivery planned in FY27-28.

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To call us using an interpreter service, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450, and ask them to call us on 9424 0000.

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Resources

Enquiries

Timeline

  • icon
    Council considers report Community Access to AEDs - 17 March 2026

    Information about providing community access to AEDs across Council facilities.
  • icon
    Community consultation on AED role-out and costs

    Closed 26 May at 5pm.
  • icon
    Council consideration of AED proposals - June 2026

    To be considered at Ordinary Meeting of Council.
  • icon
    Roll-out of AED installation - FY27-28 financial year

    The delivery timeline is within the 2027-28 financial year.

 

Need an interpreter? Please phone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to call us on 9424 0000.


If you are d/Deaf or find it hard to hear or speak to hearing people on the phone, you can contact the National Relay Service and provide them with the Ku-ring-gai contact number: 02 9424 0000.