A development application has been lodged with Orange City Council to turn the house block into a six-unit development in Gardiner Road.

Under the plan the trees, vegetation and all buildings would be removed to make way for the complex which would have four driveways.

The Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Orange group has criticised the plan as over-development of the site and is calling for at least the large gum tree to be saved with the number of units on the site reduced to five.

The development application on behalf of Zhang Building and Development Pty Ltd said the large tree would be in the way of a driveway and a unit.

Instead the company proposes to plant several smaller trees on the site.

ECCO president Neil Jones said the tree was significant and home to at least three native bird nests.

"They say it is 20 metres high, I say it is 30 metres high," he said.

"In my opinion it is one of the healthiest native eucalypts we have in an urban environment in Orange."

Mr Jones said it was different to the Dora Street tree approved for removal as there was no history of limbs falling from this tree.

"It is a very, very healthy tree, a good birds' habitat with three existing birds nests," he said.

"They are native birds and this indicates how important a tree like this is in an urban environment."

Mr Jones said removing the tree would create the view tree removal was better than tree management.

"If the removal of healthy mature trees to accommodate such excessive infill development is allowed to continue, Orange is in danger of having its enviable tree canopy compromised," he said.

"Tree retention and management is essential to ensure the continued survival of healthy mature trees in our urban landscape, which as a community we profess to value."

Public submissions on this DA close at 5pm Friday.