Fortescue Metals Group has confirmed it would start a drilling project late this month.

It comes as the company also announced it had completed test drilling in the Nashdale area.

Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines said the company was looking at several areas in the Central West.

"In line with our strategy to identify low cost future growth options, Fortescue's joint venture in central NSW has been assessing exploration opportunities in areas prospective for copper and gold," she said.

"Fortescue's current exploration activities are not in the Nashdale area and will focus on the Huntley/Spring Hill [area] and Burley Jacky near Woodstock.

"Drilling will commence in late October for a three to four month period."

The WA-based mining company said in a public notice advertisement it had contracted a "locally-based and owned" drilling operator for the work.

It said the test drilling project was being done by Fortescue with another company, Gold and Copper Resources.

Nashdale resident and chairman of the Food and Wines not Mines group Ken Dally said he was happy to see the end of drilling in his area, but was concerned for land owners in the newly-announced exploration areas.

"I got an email from Fortescue. It said in it, at least for the time being, they had no plans for the Nashdale area," he said.

"It's a cautious win," he said.

"With the public meetings that they had about it, it was indicated there would be a lot of opposition in this area.

"We wouldn't be surprised if they went somewhere easier.

"We're a little happier but we are a bit concerned for people on that [Huntley] side of town."

Mr Dally said the just-announced $685 million expansion of the Cadia mine area, adding any other mining nearby could create environmental stress.

"It's going to put one hell of a lot of pressure [on the area]," he said.

Resident opposition in Nashdale led to Mr Dally's group last year organising a petition which attracted thousands of signatures.

The petition was handed to the member for Orange Phil Donato who presented it to state parliament.

Fortescue officials also met with Nashdale residents at a public meeting in Orange on July 30 which was organised with the NSW Farmers association.

Orange branch chair Bruce Reynolds said he had not yet been contacted by any Huntley resident members who were opposed to the exploration.

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