Further Investigations Question Negligence At Bali Hotel Construction Landslide Site

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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. 

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A post shared by Amali Luxury Residence (@amaliluxuryresidence)

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.”

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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. 

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A post shared by Ni Luh Putu Ary Pertami Djelantik (@niluhdjelantik)

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.”