Disruptions Kept To A Minimum As Construction Continues At Popular Bali Tourist Beach

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Major coastal restoration work is underway at Bali’s world-famous Kuta Beach in a bid to help save the tourism hotspot from total erosion.

Kuta Beach is experiencing some of the worst coastal erosion in Indonesia, and essential conservation work is underway to help protect the landscape for local communities, tourists, and wildlife. 

The Head of Kuta Traditional Village, Komang Alit Ardana, has spoken to reporters about the importance of the coastal restoration work and how it might affect tourists visiting the beach in the short and medium term.

While disruptions will be kept to a minimum, the biggest priority is implementing the coastal conservation strategies to permit beach use in the long term. 

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Ardana confirmed that new breakwaters will be built to help reduce the impact of waves and high tides on the shoreline, and sand filling will be done to help replace the sediment that has already been washed away.

He told reports “We in the traditional village are very supportive of this project, but based on previous experience, we hope that the order of work can be adjusted. The breakwater is built first, then the revetment or embankment, then after that the sand filling.”

This is not the first time such work has been carried out. In 2006, similar coastal conservation efforts were implemented in the Kuta area to help prevent erosion of the world-famous beach resort.

Fast-forward nearly twenty years, and the efforts have certainly given the ecosystem some time, but this next phase of the work is essential if the beach is to be preserved in the long term. 

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Ardana recalled, “At that time, the sand had been filled, but because there was no breakwater, the sand was washed away again by the waves. Now we learn from that and hope that the implementation can consider the technical conditions in the field.”

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He revealed that work should not significantly impact holidaymakers and beachgoers. However, tourists should be aware that they may see construction vehicles and coastal conservation work underway over the next six months in the Kuta area.

Ardana added, “We hope the breakwater will be enough to reach the Satgas Beach area, so that the waves on the north side remain. We are sure it will not interfere with surfing activities.”

He concluded, “Hopefully this project can run smoothly and bring long-term benefits, not only for coastal protection, but also for the sustainability of tourism in Kuta.”

Construction teams have confirmed that the creation of the access road has been completed, which means that work can now begin on building the breakwaters.

Bambang Kardono from the Bali-Penida River Basin Office, the authority overseeing the project, told reporters this week, “For progress, we have just finished the construction of the road access to the breakwater and the demolition of the breakwater.”

The old breakwater will now be dismantled, and as much of the material as possible will be recovered. Kardono and his teams are now waiting on a shipment of limestone that will be used alongside the recovered material to build the new breakwater structure off Kuta Beach.

He explained ,”For white limestone, we plan to bring it in mid-May. There is no delay, that is the work method. Because if the limestone stock is piled up in the work area, there is no place for it.”

He noted that teams are committed to ensuring the project is completed on time and on budget despite the obstacles. Kardono told reporters, “High tides remain a major obstacle. But we have a schedule of high and low tides, so we can predict for implementation in the field.”