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Bali Government Takes Swift Action Over Canggu Noise Complaints

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Officials in Bali have announced that they have implemented a series of steps to tackle noise pollution in Canggu. The news comes just days after they were sent an open letter and petition from local communities calling for action over the noise disturbances in the area. The petition now has over 8,000 signatures and has prompted leaders to discuss solutions. 

Travelers And Tourists Sit On Bean Bags At Sunset At Bali La Bris Beach Club

A meeting was held at the Bali Province Civil Service Offices on Wednesday 14th, September. The meeting was chaired by the Head of Bali Province Satpol PP, Dewa Nyoman Rai Dharmadi. Bali’s most important tourism leaders attended the meeting; including the Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, the Head of the Bali Provincial Forestry and Environment Service I Made Teja and the head of the traditional indigenous groups for Canggu. 

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The petition cited that Canggu has become increasingly noisy and subject to disorderly and disrespectful behavior by both business owners and tourists. The area has undergone significant and rapid expansion. Nightclubs, bars, hotels, and guesthouses have all been noted to create disturbances to local people and holidaymakers in the Canggu area. According to the petition, the noise is ‘…worse than an earthquake. This noise disturbance lasts every night until 1AM, 2AM, 3AM, and some bars even until 4AM!’

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The petition touched upon not only the noise but the environmental impacts of the disturbances. Arguments state that ‘Many of these clubs and bars are directly adjacent to temples, including ‘Pura Kahyangan Jagat’, some of the most sacred in Bali. And next to it, indecent and disrespectful acts have been occurring, from drunkenness, sexual behaviors, urinating in the temple walls area, and possibly consumption of illegal substances’.

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The complaints and petition were taken seriously, and an urgent meeting was called on Wednesday. During the two-and-a-half-hour meeting, officials discussed the complaints, substantiated reports, and agreed on what could be done moving forward. Dharmadi said, ‘We cannot immediately close the place of business. The foremost thing to do is carry out guidance to build a joint commitment to the improvement and development of tourism in Bali because Bali depends on the tourism sector’.

Ariel-Photo-Of-Finns-Beach-Club-In-Canggu-Bali-Busy-With-People

It has been agreed that as of Friday 16th September, the Bali Civil Service will be meetings with entrepreneurs in the area. The community will be encouraged to report any incidences of noise surpassing 70 decibels to the authorities so that they can intervene. Anyone who does wish to file a report can do so with the local police or the civil service. 

The next significant agreement was that venues must close operations by 1 am rather than 3 am, as stated in the Covid-19 PPKM Level One Restrictions. Dharmadi said, ‘The decibel limit for sound is 70 decibels outdoors, and the maximum opening time is 01:00 WITA. That’s a maximum of all kinds of [venues]’

Tourists-Relax-At-Bali-Nightclub-Beach-Bar-Club

The Head of Badung Tourism Office, I Nyoman Rudiarta, confirmed that his teams will visit venues to check licenses and monitor business operations. He said, ‘In the near future we will carry out monitoring with a team from Licensing, Satpol PP, as well as from the supervision and control of tourism. Including friends from village and sub-district officials. We will see how the conditions are there. We must also check the noise level criteria [under] the same understanding’. 

Dhamradi said that action would be taken against venues found to be breaking the rules. He said, ‘We start with education and socialization of this agreement. So, if there is a violation, then we will enforce it, of course. We will continue to put forward a humanistic approach’. 

Bali Beach Club For Tourists At Nighttime

There are hopes that this urgent action is a positive sign that all stakeholders will continue to work together. The petition was also addressed to Tourism Minster Sandiaga Uno, who was asked for his insights during a press conference on Monday afternoon.

He said, ‘We hope that with Canggu being established as a digital nomad place, it will also begin to transform [namely that] music is [not played] too late at night to disturb rest. Because people also need peace’. He said that tourism destinations should adjust their rules to ‘respect the surrounding community. 

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George

Friday 16th of September 2022

What is with all the big speakers and karaoke singers in every small village all over the island. The government should also do something against this music which is also not respectful to all other people around. Locals and guests.

Exp

Saturday 17th of September 2022

Yes, I have been inspection maybe 50 villas for possible long term rental. I have met quite a few who admitted that they actually want to move due to noise problems, like neighbour penchant for late night karaoke outdoor. Even in a remote village far North -- in the middle of nowhere -- Neighbour villa started up loud outdoor karaoke. What are the odds? Quite high actually in Bali.

Wayan Bo

Friday 16th of September 2022

This problem could be perhaps easy to solve with earphones, like it was done nearly decade ago in some Amsterdams discotheques.

Exp

Friday 16th of September 2022

Quote "Dharmadi [Satpol PP Bali] said, ‘The decibel limit for sound is 70 decibels outdoors, and the maximum opening time is 01:00 WITA. That’s a maximum of all kinds of [venues]’"

Even if the authorities measure an 'average' noise outdoor from the club, the noise will be unbearable for most residents because the low frequency bass sounds will still penetrate roof and walls - thump-thump is impossible to insulate against!!

I have first hand experience as in Sanur the same authorities were involved regarding many complaints of noise from Black Mamba nightclub. At that time it was referred to the same 70 dBA limit -- and a lot of meetings with club owner. And guess what: Nothing changed and this club is still a major noise problem one year later. To keep my sanity I just had to abandon the villa rental and move on.

So do not expect much improvement in Canggu. The only thing that work is full closure of the problem venues. Let them relocate to industrial zones.

ian

Sunday 19th of February 2023

@Exp, I live in Legian and have done so for many years.The increasing amount of Australian owned bars and nightclubs has almost killed off any kind of a quiet life now. A newly opened bar close to where I live pumps out very loud music making it impossible to sleep until after the bar has closed. Legian, like a lot of smaller villages in Bali should not be allowed to operate, Legian is too small a place to put up with this kind of noise.As you suggested let them go to an industrial zone and give Legian back to some sort of normality. It's bad enough during the day when all you can hear from almost every bar and restaurant is the very loud music being pumped out and I think I would be correct inn saying this is to attract customers. Why do they do it? why can't there be a place where people can go and have a meal and a drink without ear having to shout at each other to be heard. And yes, complaining to the authorities does absolutely nothing.

Martina

Friday 16th of September 2022

At last! This shud hav been done decades ago. Canggu used to be a place of beauty. I feel sorry for those few natural rice farmers left who struggle to keep their ducks and grains healthy. What about the REAL environmental impact or have we forgotten this in Bali? Eg there used to be packs of frogs, large hermit snails and other tree living animals. Gone! And likely never to return until u remove the white homeo sapiens.

leftist idiot

Saturday 17th of September 2022

@Martina, idiot racist, who are the one facilitating this.... the Bali goverment, its not a race thing. Its a money, power and religious thing.

Neil gill

Friday 16th of September 2022

They seem to be in a world of their own. I k ow many expats that have surfed this area and frequented it for many years that will not even go near the area. Club city