Gregory Hills’ new lifestyle precinct one step closer

A cinema complex, two hotels, a recreation centre and restaurants will be built in Gregory Hills. 

The NSW government Regional Planning Assessment Panel has approved a large retail centre known as SOMA Lifestyle.

The six-hectare site will fall between the coming SOMA Wellness health hub and private hospital at Gregory Hills Drive and Digitaria Drive.

The project is expected to generate almost 700 jobs.

Gregory Hills Corporate Park director Satwant Calais said construction would begin in late 2018, with completion due early 2020.

“We expect SOMA Lifestyle to quickly become the south west's go-to destination for shopping, dining and entertainment,” he said.

“SOMA Lifestyle has been specifically designed as a welcoming, pedestrian friendly precinct.

“Shops and restaurants will be surrounded by play zones, public open spaces and walking tracks along the river.

“This investment is a huge vote of confidence in the local community and will allow many more people to live and work locally."

SOMA Wellness is due for completion in May.

It will include access to health services such as GP, pharmacy, radiology, pathology, dentistry, physiotherapy, podiatry and psychology.

The $330 million project is expected to become the state’s largest private hospital when completed.

A dental super clinic is one of the latest additions to the health hub.

The seven-room dental clinic is a collaboration between Dr Nabil Matti and Dr William Rafeh, who run highly regarded practices at Fairfield and Richmond.

Dr Matti said the clinic would feature cutting edge dental technology generally unavailable in the south west.

“At SOMA Wellness, we will treat the whole person, and move beyond a narrow, clinical experience,” Dr Matti said.

“Our philosophy is that good dental health is the foundation for good physical and psychological health.

“We want more people to have better teeth and more confident smiles – and we want that to be accessible to the whole community.”