Jet fuel spill shuts part of Hobart's waterfront, with people told to close windows due to hazardous materials
Tasmania Fire Service appliances seen near Nuyina at Macquarie Wharf on Sunday. (ABC News: Eliza Kloser)
An area of Hobart's waterfront was cordoned off on Sunday because of a fuel spill, with people nearby advised to close their windows and shut doors.
Around 5pm on Sunday, Tasmania Police issued a hazardous material advice notice that a fuel spill had occurred in Hunter Street, Hobart.
On Sunday evening, Tasmania Fire Service crews were seen at the berth of Nuyina, Australia's Antarctic icebreaker ship, which uses Hobart as its home base.
Loading...Inspector Jason Klugg told the ABC there was "no direct risk to the public".
"I am at the scene at Macquarie Wharf 5, at the end of Evans Street in Hobart, where a quantity of jet fuel has leaked."
"The container I'm told is a 10,000 litre container of jet fuel and that's what's overfilling or flowing out over the top."
Inspector Klugg said "Tasmania Fire Service are assessing the circumstances" and would provide updates later.
A roadblock was put in place restricting access to Macquarie Wharf on Sunday evening. (ABC News: Eliza Kloser)
Police advised "exposure to this material may present a danger. The general public are asked to avoid the area where possible".
People in the immediate area have been advised to "stay indoors, close all doors, windows, and vents, and turn air conditioners to recirculate or off".
Non-residents should stay away from the affected areas until advised otherwise.
No environmental impacts, AAD says
In a statement, the Australian Antarctic Division said the spill had been fully contained and there would be a further clean-up today.
The AAD spokesperson said a "small quantity of aviation fuel spilled onto the wharf at the port of Hobart".
The "minor leak" came from an ISO tank set to be loaded onto the RSV Nuyina for the ship's upcoming resupply voyage to Antarctica — and was not related to its operations.
"There were no injuries and no environmental impacts," an AAD spokesperson said.
A Tasmania Police roadblock at Evans Street, which leads to Macquarie Wharf 5.