The proposal to create mountain bike trials on Mount Canobolas has been criticised of late, with Greens MP for the NSW Legislative Council Cate Faehrmann slamming the bike trail development as "absolutely preposterous" in a visit to Orange this week.

While members of the Aboriginal community have spoken out about the plan: "(We're) opposed to it occurring in significant areas ... on Gannha-bula," Kira Dargin said during the Gannha-bula Action Group's first community meeting.

Mr Donato, though, said opposition was to be expected, adding "many people who are vocal may not be fully aware of what the project entails and the revenue it will bring".

"There have been some concerns about a lack of consultation, but I've been advised Orange City Council has been prudent in consulting with stakeholders," he said in a speech to NSW Parliament on Thursday.

"Aboriginal cultural heritage is incorporated into the project proposal and planning is afoot."

A keen supporter of the project that will create 104.4 kilometres of mountain bike trails, the bulk of which will be in the state conservation area (SCA), Mr Donato said calls to leave the mountain untouched would ultimately allow invasive weeds and pest species to run rampant in the area.

He said a lot of the revenue created by the park would be put back into the area to help with its upkeep.

"Use of public land is critical to its care and management. Left the way it is, it is a tinderbox for future fires and a haven for weeds and pests to thrive," Mr Donato said.

"The 'lock it up and leave it' approach (in the name of) preservation often has a negative ecological impact.

"The proposed trails have been mapped through much of the weed-inhabited areas of the mountain. The trail will actually require weed removal and itself provide ongoing access to manage weeds throughout the mountain's understorey."

Around 70km of the proposed trail is in the SCA but Mr Donato said using conservation areas for recreation was fairly common across NSW.

In his speech, he highlighted the NSW National Parks and Wildlife actively promoting mountain bike riding in a number of conservation areas, with trials existing in the Glenrock SCA near Newcastle, as well as in Dharug National Park, the Blue Mountains National Park and the Thredbo-Perisher and Mount Kosciuszko National Parks, to name a few.

"There will be a broad range of employment opportunities in the tourism, transport and hospitality industries which will be needed to cater for the estimated additional 50,000-plus visitors per year," he added.

He said the regions of Orange and Cabonne were already flourishing tourism-wise with a healthy food and wine culture, but adding "a world class" mountain bike park to Mount Canobolas would help diversify that industry.

"The mental and physical health, social, sporting and economic benefits of this project will be tremendous to the community of Orange and to those visiting," he said. "As I always say, an active community is a health community."

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