community services · Ku-ring-gai Council
Ku-ring-gai Council backs AED rollout across facilities, lifts budget to $334,100
Ku-ring-gai Council has approved a publicly accessible AED program across council facilities and increased the capital project cost to $334,100 in 2026/27, with annual operating costs of $80,730.
Ku-ring-gai Council has approved a publicly accessible AED program across its facilities and raised the project cost to $334,100 in 2026/27, at its ordinary meeting on Tuesday night in Gordon.
The rollout is linked to Lachy’s Heartstart Project. The minutes record annual operating costs of $80,730 on top of the capital spend.
Council also approved the implementation of the program, which is described in the meeting papers as publicly accessible. The aim is to place automated external defibrillators at council sites across Ku-ring-gai.
The AED item was one part of a meeting that also dealt with rates, meeting rules, planning controls and heritage matters. Councillors adopted the revised Resourcing Strategy, Delivery Program and Operational Plan after a tied vote on the Special Rate Variation.
The Mayor’s casting vote broke a 5-5 split on the budget papers. The minutes say the adopted 24.6% Special Rate Variation, combined with the 4.4% rate peg, will produce a 29% rate revenue increase for 2026/27 from 1 July.
Council also moved to revert immediately to the 22 October 2024 Code of Meeting Practice after the NSW Legislative Council disallowed the 2025 model code regulation. The resolution rescinded the council’s 21 October 2025 adoption of the newer code.
The meeting also adopted Transport Forum recommendations, put the updated Councillors Expenses and Facilities Policy on public exhibition for 28 days, and sought independent cost comparison advice before deciding between natural turf and synthetic turf at Charles Bean Oval.
Councillors also endorsed DCP amendments for public exhibition to align local planning controls with state low and mid-rise housing reforms. Another resolution asked the Heritage Committee for advice on Tulkiyan House, while limiting spending to basic maintenance until council considers that advice.
The AED program was one of the clearer practical items from the meeting. More council facilities are now due to gain publicly accessible defibrillators, with funding and operating costs fixed in the 2026/27 budget papers.
Reference minutes
Source: Ku-ring-gai Council Ordinary Meeting of Council, 16 June 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council approved a publicly accessible AED program across its facilities.
- The project cost was increased to $334,100 in 2026/27.
- Annual operating costs were put at $80,730.
- The program is linked to Lachy’s Heartstart Project.
- Council also moved to revert to the 22 October 2024 Code of Meeting Practice after the NSW Legislative Council disallowed the 2025 model code regulation.
- Council adopted its revised Resourcing Strategy, Delivery Program and Operational Plan using a 24.6% Special Rate Variation, with the Mayor’s casting vote.
- The meeting date was 16 June 2026.
Why it matters
- The rollout puts publicly accessible defibrillators in more council facilities and locks in the funding, timing and ongoing running costs for the program.