On Friday, 16th May, the iconic limestone cliff at Pemutih Pecatu Beach crumbled on the beach and shoreline of the Bukit Peninsula after a construction landslide at the new Amali Luxury Residence, a project by the Mirah Development Group.
While initial investigations found that there were no licensing issues at play, political leaders in Bali are now questioning whether negligence was at play in the events that led up to the landslide that decimated the ancient cliff face.
The situation garnered outrage from local communities and Bali lovers, which further fuelled the conversation around Bali’s rapid and ‘reckless’ tourism development.
Mirah Development Group issued a statement in the days that followed the cliff collapse and pledged to have Pemutih Pecatu Beach back to its original condition within 28 days once the right methods have been identified.
However, political leaders in Badung Regency have more questions they want to see answered. Although construction has been halted for now, with licensing and permits all technically in order, there is little stopping the project from going forward.
Local politician I Nyoman Parta is questioning why and how the crumbled limestone is now being dredged into the ocean.
Parta is calling on the Bali Provincial Government and the Badung Regency Government to immediately sit down to discuss the project’s permits and licenses again.
He is also concerned that Pemutih Pecatu Beach could become a ‘private’ beach. He wants to see the two government levels sit together to synchronize the approach so “that decisions do not differ from each other. Changing the natural landscape and beaches must not become private beaches.”
Different licenses and permits are issued to developers from different levels of government, and many leaders have cited the lack of communication and clarification between the licensing agencies as one of the reasons why Bali’s tourism boom is starting to spiral out of control.
Parta added, “Moreover, the cliff that was demolished was in a buffer area; it shouldn’t have happened.” He’s calling on developers to really act responsibly when it comes to building projects on the islands and to have better control over what happens on their land.
While the initial investigation by Satpol PP, the civil service, found not licensing issues, another investigation is underway.
Bali Province One Stop Integrated Licensing Services and Investment Service (PMPTSP) is currently investigating licensing for cliff dredging at Pemutih Pecatu Beach. This includes paying attention to business licensing through Online Single Submission (OSS).
Speaking to reporters, the Head of the Bali Province PMPTSP Service, I Wayan Sumarajaya, said, “The basic requirements for business licensing include confirmation of the suitability of space utilization activities, environmental approval, and building approval.”
In an interview with reporters at the time of the cliff collapse, the Regent of Badung I Nyoman Giri Prasta said, “The land where the arrangement is located also has an SHM (Certificate of Ownership Rights). However, during the implementation of the activity, negligence occurred, causing limestone to collapse (cover) the shoreline.”
He added, “As for the permit, the OSS (online single submission) is already underway, and the permit is in place. The designation is also (suitable for) tourism accommodation.”
Irrespective of the outcome of the investigation into the Amali Luxury Residence, the situation has pushed the conversation around rapid and unrelenting tourism development in Bali even further into the public domain.
In an interview with reporters Prof. Dr. Drs. I Putu Anom, M.Par as Professor of Tourism at Udayana University shared his assessment of the situation on the ground. In his professional opinion, the construction of hotels and villas is now starting to have a negative impact on Bali’s nature.
He added, “The government cannot sell permits for hotel construction. There must be strict and clear spatial planning regulations and land use.”
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JoKer
Thursday 6th of June 2024
"However, political leaders in Badung Regency have more questions they want to see answered. Although construction has been halted for now, with licensing and permits all technically in order, there is little stopping the project from going forward".
In other words, we (political leaders) have received our payoffs but since there is still some public outrage, we will pretend to do a thorough investigation until people lose interest.
Firechef
Friday 7th of June 2024
@JoKer, Exactly!
Joe Citizen
Wednesday 5th of June 2024
Along with spatial impact planning, maybe environmental impact reports needed too?
Exp
Wednesday 5th of June 2024
@Joe Citizen,
New law enacted recently for Indonesia restricts the public’s ability to challenge projects that may cause environmental and social harm. The results are already showing in Bali drawing in unscrupulous investors.
"- Global investors have joined local activists in raising concerns about the potential impact of environmental deregulation measures contained in a new omnibus law passed by Indonesia’s parliament.
- Among the many criticisms of the so-called omnibus law on job creation is that it restricts the public’s ability to consult on or challenge projects that may cause environmental and social harm.
- Activists say the law, ostensibly aimed at attracting foreign investment into Indonesia, is likely to draw investors who have little regard for environmental protection."
LINK
Here a hotel under construction in Sanur, skipping the need for "environmental impact report", building their Miami style hotel on the beach:
LINK
Ketut
Wednesday 5th of June 2024
Please to all our Balinese community, we need to wake up now and stop some of the project accomodation in Bali. If we don’t stop by now Bali island will be gone in twenty years time Bali local community will cannot access to the beach because all the investors will claimed the beach that belong to them and pay the security guard to stop the locals to come. For example the in Nusa dua Area the local community not allowed to excess the beach. The all put the gates and the security. Please pay attention to what we are going through. Where is our young generation gonna to go? Please…. Please….. Stop now🥲
Firechef
Friday 7th of June 2024
@Ketut, Your own fault, you wanted the tourists and the money! Now live with it.
Exp
Wednesday 5th of June 2024
Balinese leaders: "all paperwork, licensing and permits are ok".
Meanwhile those with working eyes and common sense clearly can identify the irreversible damage made to this cliff-face.
The developer plans for Amali shows cliff cut away to accommodate lower levels with pool. So why was the project not stopped at the planning stage and course corrected?
LINK
The other mystery is who is funding all these new developments build in non-Balinese style?