Plans for the Forest Road development are now on public exhibition at Orange City Council.

They show 55 native trees and nine remnant natives are among the 513 trees, out of 794 on the site, that will go.

However, most are pines planted during the 1980s for the Country Club golf course.

Orange mayor Reg Kidd said older trees near the hospital would not be affected by this development.

"There's been a lot of misunderstanding about the project so far, mostly about the location, and I hope people take the time to look at the project closely before they decide whether or not to support it," he said.

"Most of the criticism I've heard so far is from people worried about the loss of trees in an area alongside the hospital. But that's not where the sports precinct will be built."

He said the grandstand and sporting fields would be built alongside Sir Jack Brabham Park.

"The proposed new sports precinct is nowhere near the designed landscaped grounds of Bloomfield hospital. This area was not part of Bloomfield Hospital. In fact it's several hundred metres from the hospital, and basically is not in view of the hospital," he said.

He said council staff were looking to re-use the wood from the culled trees.

Council's Sports and Recreation Committee chair Cr Jason Hamling said the plans would give the public an understanding of the project.

"We're swapping one sporting facility, a golf course, for another sporting facility," he said.

"The opportunity to build a $25 million purpose-built sports precinct with a grandstand and marquee field is one that's too good to miss. This new precinct will benefit Orange residents for generations to come."

The DA covers the first stage of the precinct plans.

Due to the size of the development, which includes a grandstand, a marquee field, eight sporting fields and a specialist athletics track, planning approval will be handled in stages. It is on exhibition until February 5 to seek public comment.

The site has had a varied history including being used as an aerodrome from the 1930s, the centre of the Gnoo Blas racing circuit from the 1950s and the golf course from the 1980s.