Dandenong Wellbeing Centre - New Dandenong Oasis

Council is planning to develop a new aquatic and wellbeing centre. It is intended to replace Dandenong Oasis, which is nearing the end of its effective life. This major infrastructure project is a key recommendation from the Greater Dandenong Aquatic Strategy and is planned to have a targeted focus on health and wellbeing.

The design of the Dandenong Wellbeing Centre was endorsed by Council in February 2022.

Download the Dandenong Wellbeing Centre Design -11MB

Latest Update

On Monday 12 February 2024, Council committed to going out to procure the construction of the centre. The procurement process will begin with an Expression of Interest in February. This is expected to be followed by a formal Tender process. 

Design Features

The Dandenong Wellbeing Centre has been designed to include a broad range of facilities, as determined by the Greater Dandenong Aquatic Strategy (2019) and refined through subsequent community and stakeholder engagement. 

The centre is planned as a new two-storey facility in the south west corner of Mills Reserve. The design sees patrons enter the centre though a public plaza and expansive foyer offering a range of community facilities. The design includes two separate pool halls, providing separate zones for active and passive / warm water aquatic activities. A range of dry health and fitness facilities are planned for Level 1 (accessible via a lift and stairs). There's also a planned integrated sports pavilion. 

Project Background

Council resolved in September 2019 to develop a new aquatic and wellbeing centre at Mills Reserve to replace the existing Dandenong Oasis, which is over 40 years old and no longer meeting the needs of the community. 

This major infrastructure project is a key recommendation from Council’s Aquatic Strategy, which is based on the vision to get “more people, more active, more often”.
The Aquatic Strategy identifies the new aquatic centre as an indoor multi-purpose facility that will complement the nearby Noble Park Aquatic Centre (NPAC) and have a targeted focus on allied health, passive activity, education, fitness and wellness.

The centre is planned to incorporate traditional aquatic and leisure facility components, but with an enhanced focus on health and wellbeing, in response to identified community need. Key facility components are proposed to include two warm water pools, a 50m pool (with moveable boom), learn to swim pool, leisure pool / water play, spa, sauna and steam room, gymnasium, program / group fitness rooms, meeting rooms, allied health suites, café and amenities. 

Design Process

Council appointed a design team led by CO-OP Studio in April 2021 to design the new centre. The design process drew on previous planning and consultation undertaken as part of the Aquatic Strategy which involved over 1570 engagements/community responses.

The design process was guided by the following guiding principles:

• Enhancing community health and wellbeing
• Maximising equity and access
• Facilitating social connections
• Providing high quality facilities
• Creating sustainable outcomes

Additional community consultation was undertaken in July/August 2021 to seek resident’s views about how to make the new Centre welcoming and accessible to people of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds. A total of 444 engagements/responses were recorded which demonstrated strong support for the project and helped to inform the draft design.

The draft design was then placed on public exhibition in November/December 2021 to provide a further opportunity for community feedback. A total of 136 engagements / responses were received which reinforced the demand, direction and proposed design for the new centre.