Orange City Council last week approved developing the former saleyards site on either side of Edward Street as an industrial estate.

A covered walkway/shelter remaining after the removal of other saleyards infrastructure following its closure in 2008 is to be cut up.

One section shall be retained on site, another will be moved to the planned rest stop on the eastern entrance of the Mitchell Highway to Orange while the remainder will be sold.

A staff report to council said the sections would be used to remember the history of the saleyards.

"Three bays, approximately nine metres, of the covered walkway shall be retained and relocated within the vicinity of the stormwater basin, as per the approved plan," it said.

"An interpretation panel is to be provided within the vicinity of the relocated walkway, and shall provide images and texts to explain the history of the saleyards."

Mayor Cr Reg Kidd said the portion going to the Mitchell Highway site would also be used to tell the history of the saleyards.

Council's Engineering Services manager Jason Theakstone said design plans for the area were done.

"Four bays will go out to Dairy Creek Road where the steel cows are to be used as a shelter there," he said.

"The rest will be put up for public tender and I believe there will be a few people interested in purchasing that."

Councillors Russell Turner and Scott Munro said it was an important part of Orange's history.

Meanwhile council has also approved a development application to build three large houses on land on Forbes Road that had previously been proposed to have 26 social housing units.

It is proposed two houses, each with four bedrooms, would front Forbes Road on 1120 square metre and 855 square metre blocks.

The grandest home on the site, with eight bedrooms, would be on 7727 square metres of land.

The project is valued at $2.8 million.

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