Councillors, a politician and a sports star met on the former Country Club golf course site at Bloomfield on Thursday morning to turn the first sod and watch a machine drill a test hole.

The first development applications for the complex are still four-six weeks away from being lodged with Orange City Council.

The complex featuring a 10,000-people capacity sports stadium with a rectangular field, an athletics track, cricket and multipurpose ovals is expected to be completed within three years.

State government representative Sam Farraway MLC said the government had committed the full amount for the project and now wanted to see it built. "The NSW Premier [Gladys Berejiklian] and deputy premier [John Barilaro] have both signed off and agreed to fast track this project and use $25 million from the state's stimulus program to deliver this project," he said.

He said there would "diggers on site and shovels in the ground" this year.

"This project was always going to happen, but it was when it was going to happen."

Mr Farraway said he expected Orange could host A-League football and major rugby union games.

Mayor Cr Reg Kidd said it was the biggest investment in sport in Orange.

VIDEO: DRILLING MACHINE AT WORK

He said while there had been talk about attracting NRL games to Orange, much more revenue for the city could be gained from up to week-long junior and regional sporting carnivals.

Cr Kidd said most of the trees to be removed were "feral pines." Mostly native trees will be planted around the site.

Cr Jason Hamling said it would enable Orange to compete with Mudgee and other regional centres to attract major sporting events, including NRL games. "This is just fantastic news, I am over the moon," he said.

Teenage cricket star Phoebe Litchfield said it was great news for local athletes, like her, who currently had to train in Sydney.

"It is really exciting for young athletes like myself and athletes coming through to be able to train and play at an amazing precinct and show that Central West sport keeps on getting better," she said.