Bali Communities Protest Tourist Development On World Famous Canggu Beach

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Residents of Pererenan Traditional Village in Canggu have staged a demonstration on the Pererenan-Lima Beach front, expressing their rejection of a huge development that would completely change the landscape of the iconic coastal resort forever. 

The development is set to be built on state-owned land on Lima Beach at Pererenan in Canggu.

The land around the edge of the riverbanks is suspected to have been reclaimed by the Badung Regency Government, and has then been rented out on a long-term lease to investors for the construction of a restaurant.

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Speaking from the demonstration, the Attorney for the Pererenan Traditional Village, I Wayan Koplog Antara, told reporters that the traditional village rejects any development carried out by investors on reclaimed land owned by the state.

The refusal is based on principle but also on concerns that the development would damage the ecosystem around the river mouth, including environmental pollution around the river, along the coast, and out to sea.

Antara explained, “In the future, it is certain that abrasion will occur. “We have seen that now the conditions are already abrasive, and if left untreated, access to the beach could be closed, even disrupting religious activities on Lima Beach.”

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Antara and the Pererenan Traditional Village are concerned that the land reclamation and the leasing of the land has been completed without environmental assessments, permits and public discussion. He stressed,”

Regarding the reclamation activity itself, the reclamation activity has no permit and no environmental impact assessment, including no permit from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).”

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Antara cited the law clearly; he noted that In accordance with Law 27 of 2027 concerning the Management of Coastal Areas and Small Islands, there should be land that is controlled by the state because it is state land, not leased out to private parties.

“Before this river was flooded, this river was very well maintained and planted with mangrove-type plants. In fact, in accordance with the current job creation law, the person entitled to the land is the Pererenan Traditional Village Benza and not land claimed by the Badung Regency Government.”

Antara and the Pererenan community say that the Badung Regency have not been clear in their communication of plans. They noted that the regency officials did not speak to them about the land reclamation, only small river and beach management work. 

Antara said, “We have coordinated with the Bali-Penida River Regional Office (BWS), and we know that there is a river filled with mud. However, it is now being reclaimed by taking sand from Lima Beach, so the beach is now eroded.”

When asked for comment, the Head of the Badung Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR) Service, IB Surya Suamba, firmly denied that the Badung Regency Government had carried out land reclamation in the area. Suamba explained that what was being done was normal management work on rivers that were experiencing abrasion.

He claimed the work is an effort to restore the natural function of rivers damaged by abrasion, as well as being part of the coastal area structuring project. He stated, “We are not carrying out reclamation, but normalizing the river as part of the ongoing coastal planning.”

Most notably, he denied that the work on the river and surrounding landscape was as part of preparation to hand over the land to investors.

He stated that it is hoped that the statement can provide clarification to the public regarding the actual activities carried out by the Badung PUPR Service and eliminate misunderstandings regarding alleged reclamation in the area.

The Head of BPKAD Badung Regional Asset Management, Kadek Oka Permadi, also spoke with reporters and added that the land leased to investors complies with applicable regulations.

Of the total 70,000 square meters of land available, only 30,000 square meters are now rented. “We don’t rent out all the land, and that’s only for two years, which should be a maximum of five years and can be extended again, with a contract value of more than IDR 400 million.”