South East Leisure to manage Greater Dandenong Leisure Facilities

Greater Dandenong City Council has announced that it its four major aquatic and recreation centres will be managed its wholly-owned subsidiary South East Leisure (SEL) Pty Ltd as of 1st July.

Created by the Council in 2021, SEL will take over the running of the Dandenong Oasis, Dandenong Stadium, Noble Park Aquatic Centre and Springers Leisure Centre from the Dandenong Basketball Association and YMCA Victoria.

Under the plan, SEL will lease the facilities for 10 years at a peppercorn rent of $1 a year, with the Council paying any SEL quarterly-earnings deficit as a management fee. Surpluses will be paid to the council as a dividend.

This decision is part of a bigger objective to bring all Council owned aquatic and recration facilities together in order to benefit the diverse local community.

The Council advised the reasons for its change as being:

• The company model retains strong control and alignment with its community needs and Council strategic objectives including those recently articulated in the Make Your Move Greater Dandenong Physical Activity Strategy 2020-2030 and soon to be endorsed Council Plan.

• Council maintains control over the asset management program to protect its significant investment in its major recreational facilities.

• Council is soon to invest significant capital in the replacement of Dandenong Oasis and this will be the largest Capital project embarked on by Council.

• The model will enable networked service offerings across all facilities improving the experience for our community.

SEL’s five-member Council-appointed board includes chair Stephen Wright - a former Richmond Football Club Chief Executive, former City of Greater Dandenong Corporate Services Director Mick Jaensch, former Dandenong Market Director Tim Cockayne, Commonwealth Bank Executive Manager Laura Buckley and senior healthcare executive Dr Malak Sukkar.

In ending the contracts of current facility managers Dandenong Basketball Association and YMCA, the Council acknowledged the excellent work of the staff in running the facilities.

Greater Dandenong City Council, Chief Executive, John Bennie explained “I would like to acknowledge the excellent work done all the staff and volunteers in running the facilities on Council’s behalf.

“Council is working closely with everyone involved and have engaged Otium Planning group in project support, to ensure facility staff are supported over the transition.”

Image: Dandenong Oasis.