Published 10:21a.m. 28th August 2008

Updated 1:45p.m. 28th August 2008

A fully-laden diesel fuel tanker rolled onto its side on a roundabout on the Kawana Way. Photo: Barry Leddicoat/177951

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Kawana Way is expected to remain closed for several hours this afternoon, as the clean-up continues following a diesel fuel tanker rollover this morning, which caused 34,700 litres of fuel to spill out onto the bitumen.

Traffic in the area is believed to be heavily congested.

The accident happened at the Mountain Creek end of Kawana Way, on a roundabout into a new housing estate, about 10am.

Firefighters, ambulance officers and the new Main Roads Traffic Response Unit vehicle are all at the scene, helping to mop up the fuel.

It is understood the Enviromental Protection Agency had been called to attend the scene following fears the fuel could leak into a stormwater drain via a creek which is situated 150 metres south of the site.

A 100-metre exclusion zone has been put in place around the spill, which is now contained, thanks to sandbags and the application of foam.

The spillage has been diverted away from the stormwater drains and is not believed to pose a significant environmental threat.

Firefighters contained the leak by digging a dam with front end loaders and lining it with salvage sheets.

Hamish Paynter, who works for Eureka Landscaping, witnessed the accident.

“Myself and a colleague were standing here working, we are building the entry walls and things for the Stockland estate here and we were about 10 metres away," he said.

“We had our backs to it, we heard the truck coming around the round about and thought nothing of it, heard the exhaust brakes and the next thing you know, we hear this crash.

“You could hear the screeching of metal and almost hear the slosh of the liquid inside, so we did a bit of a jump and turned around and here’s this big tanker lying on its side.”

Traffic is blocked and police have advised motorists to avoid the area.

Police said the truck driver was taken to Nambour Hospital for treatment to injuries that are not believed to be serious.