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

Introduction

Ku-ring-gai Council is proposing the installation of up to sixty (60) Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) across its sportsgrounds, along with up to ten (10) AEDs within its community facilities in the 2026/27 financial year.

The initiative is intended to enhance public safety and emergency response capability across Council-managed assets. It is proposed that the project be funded through a modest increase in hire fees, equitably distributed among sportsground users and hirers of community buildings and halls.

We are now inviting feedback from sportsground users, sporting clubs and organisations, community facility hirers, individual sports and community facility hirers, and the wider general community before a final decision is made. You can share your feedback by completing the survey on this page, or by making a written submission using the submission function below.

Feedback closes Sunday 3 May at midnight

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 70 AEDs across its sportsgrounds 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 approx,$174,000 per year. It is proposing to do this through a modest increase to hire fees, shared across sportsground hirers and community building and hall hirers:

  • Sportsground hirers — an increase of approximately 7% to existing seasonal sports fees
  • Community building and hall hirers — an increase of approximately 1.8% to casual hire fees

As a practical example, a sporting club currently paying $1,000 per season would see an increase of around $70. For community hall hirers, the impact would be smaller given the lower percentage increase applied.

Any increase would be phased in gradually over two years from 1 July 2026. Those affected include sporting clubs, fitness and training groups, dog training groups, community organisations and individual hirers.

There will be a further opportunity to comment on the proposed fees when the Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2026/27 goes on public exhibition in June 2026.

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

As the most regular users of Council's sportsgrounds 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 the wider community also benefits, at no direct cost to them.

  • Have your say on AEDs

    This survey is to understand the community's views on Council's proposal to install publicly available automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in sportsgrounds and community facilities.

    This survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

    Take this Survey Take survey without creating an account

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 at sportsgrounds. See the council report for more information.

Council is proposing to install up to 10 AEDs at community facilities. See the council report for more information.

Sportsground and facilities users 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.

We encourage you to tell us through the survey below or by emailing openspaceassets@krg.nsw.gov.au. Your feedback will be considered by Council before arrangments are finalised.

 

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 your club name and email address at the end of the survey. There will also be a further opportunity to comment when the Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2026/27 goes on public exhibition in June 2026.

Have your say

Get involved

Community feedback on this proposal is open until Sunday 3 May at midnight. You can share your views by completing the online survey or submitting a written response via the submission function on this page.

What's next

  • Fees on exhibition — June 2026 - the specific fee amounts will be included in Council's Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2026/27, which will be placed on public exhibition in June 2026. This will be a further opportunity to formally comment before any fees are adopted.
  • Implementation — from 1 July 2026-  If endorsed following consultation, the fee increases would be introduced gradually over two years beginning 1 July 2026, with AED installations to follow..

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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

Submission

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 (Format : 'doc', 'docx', 'pdf', 'jpeg', 'png', 'mp3','xls','xlsx' )

Who's Listening

  • Open Space Assets team

    Ku-ring-gai Council

    E: openspaceassets@krg.nsw.gov.au

    P: 9424 0000

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 - NOW LIVE

    Closes 3 May.
  • icon
    Council consideration of AED proposals - June 2026

    To be considered at Ordinary Meeting of Council 
  • icon
    Roll-out of AED installation - 2026-27 financial year

    Roll-out in stages if approved by Council.

 

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.