BY OLIVIA DILLON
The Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister has announced changes to the offshore wind zone declared for the Hunter's coast.
Chris Bowen is expected to announce a zone 1000 square metres smaller than the one originally proposed, which will run from Port Stephens to Swansea.
It's also been moved about 9 kilometres further offshore.
The Central Coast section of the zone slated to go 10 kilometres off the shore at Norah Head has been removed from the proposal, after Shadow Minister Ted O'Brien last week heard concerns from the community about its potential to have visual, economic and environmental impacts on the area.
The height of the turbines will be capped at 260 metres to address aviation concerns.
The changes mean the zone's energy-generating potential has shrunk from 8 gigawatts to 5.
Mr. Bowen said the offshore wind industry has the potential to create over 3,000 construction jobs in the Hunter and 1,560 ongoing jobs.
The government estimates the declared zone will generate enough electricity to power 4.2 million homes once fully developed.
