Two cars have been destroyed or severely damaged by fire at a government-designated 'safe location' on the Illawarra's major motorway network, despite the presence of CCTV cameras installed specifically to prevent crime.
Early Morning Blaze at Bulli Pass
Emergency services were called to the gravel area at Bulli Tops shortly after 5:30am on Saturday, December 20, 2025. Upon arrival, firefighters from the Bulli and Austinmer Rural Fire Service brigades found one vehicle fully engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to a second car and threatening nearby bushland.
The crews managed to bring the blaze under control. A Toyota Yaris was completely destroyed, while a small white hatchback parked beside it sustained extensive fire damage. The incident occurred directly beneath overhead CCTV cameras.
'Safe Locations' Become Crime Hotspots
The site at Bulli Tops, where Bulli Pass splits from the M1 Princes Motorway, is one of two official 'safe locations' operated by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) for vehicles abandoned or broken down on the region's motorways. The other is a grassed area beside the Northcliffe Drive on-ramp at Kembla Grange.
However, these areas have become notorious for criminal activity. Vehicles left there are frequently stripped for parts or vandalised. In a high-profile case from early 2025, Albion Park resident Adam Lowe was left paying off a $28,000 loan for his car after it was towed to the Kembla Grange site on TfNSW's authorisation, only to be ransacked and destroyed.
'I was to pay off a $28,000 car loan for a vehicle I no longer had,' Mr Lowe said at the time.
Authorities Unable to Provide Answers or Footage
In the wake of the latest fire, a TfNSW spokeswoman could not confirm whether the transport authority had authorised the two burnt vehicles to be towed to the Bulli Tops site. More concerningly, she was also unable to provide any footage or still images from the CCTV cameras overlooking the area.
Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. A police spokeswoman confirmed that inquiries are continuing. There is speculation that stolen vehicles may be among those being dumped at the location.
The repeated incidents at these designated safe stops highlight a significant failure in policy and security, leaving motorists' property vulnerable and creating persistent hotspots for crime on key transport routes.
