Bali Sea Wall Project To Be Completed In Tourism Hotspot This Month 

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Leaders in Bali have issued updates on the highly controversial Uluwatu Sea Wall Project.

The development was intended to help secure a crack in the cliff directly beneath the world-famous and deeply spiritually significant Uluwatu Temple. Yet, many local communities and Bali lovers feel that the project has done more harm than good. 

Initial project plans suggested that the whole construction process would be completed by the end of December 2024.

In January 2025 updates announced that work would be all signed off by February, and this week leaders have confirmed that the project will come to a close by the end of the month. 

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The Head of Water Resources (SDA) of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency (PUPR) of Badung Regency, Anak Agung Rama Putra, spoke to reporters to issue updates on the work so far.

Construction teams have had to contend with the elements, not only the famous high waves of the Bukit Peninsula but also heavy monsoon rains over the last three months.

Putra explained “The first opportunity could not be completed due to weather factors. However, there was evidence from the provider which was then reported to the construction management carried out by Udayana University”

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He added “Thank God, now the water level has started to recede. This is an advantage for the project team because the level of difficulty in installing the revetment at the base of the Pura Luhur Uluwatu cliff has become easier.”

The project had already been given a 50-day extension back in December 2024 after the impact of the monsoon seasons seriously impacted the construction team’s ability to work on the sea wall aspect of the development. 

In the update shared by Putra the a progress report from two weeks ago showed that 86% of the planned target of 90.5% of the project was completed by this point. The final 10% of the project is set to be completed outside of the initial project completion deadline. 

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Footage shared online on the 21st February 2025 shows massive waves smashing into the heavy machinery at the bottom of the Uluwatu Cliff Seawall.

Outraged and frustrated local community members and Bali lovers commented their dismay on the post, as the project continues to be seen as one of the most controversial developments in Bali in recent years.

There are several reasons for the controversy, the most notable of all is that the project is believed to have been given the green light after avoiding the completion of an environmental impact assessment, known in Indonesia as an AMDAL.

The AMDAL was not necessary as the project was given the green light on the grounds that it was ‘emergency work’ that must be completed in order to protect public safety. 

However, many feel that since the crack in the cliff had been present and stable for over 30 years, that time should have been allowed to complete an environmental impact assessment.

In order to complete the work, stabilize the cliff crack beneath Pura Luhur Uluwatu, and construct the sea wall, construction teams have had to evacuate a huge section of the limestone cliff in the headland adjacent to the temple.

n doing so, a huge swathe of native trees and grazing land was also taken away, leaving several troops of macaque monkeys without access to their home range. 

In September 2024 the Head of Pecatu Traditional Village, Made Sumerta, confirmed that he had responded to police summons regarding the project. In addition to the issue of the incomplete AMDAL, many local communities raised concerns that debris from the evacuation process was being dumped into the ocean, rather than being responsibly transported out of the site.

The waters around the Uluwatu coast are not only some of the most prime surf spots in the province but also home to vulnerable marine life such as turtles.