Eradicating Bingin Beach in Bali overlooking the bigger menace of excessive construction
In the heart of Uluwatu's popular tourist spot, Bingin Beach, a long-standing settlement has become an integral part of the local heritage. However, this picturesque community, which lacks vehicle access and is only accessible via two pedestrian stairways, has found itself at the centre of a contentious issue.
The settlement, which largely disappears at high tide, has been declared illegally constructed on state land by the House of Representatives. As a result, the demolition of 45 buildings, including villas, restaurants, and surf shops, began on July 21, 2025. This enforcement by Bali's Badung Regency government is due to violations of spatial planning laws, construction on public land without permits, and zoning breaches.
Local community members, including about 200 business owners, staff, and residents, have protested the evictions, emphasizing that the demolitions threaten their livelihoods and have been executed with little dialogue or reasonable transition time. They are pursuing legal action to halt further demolitions and seek fair compensation or resettlement plans.
The key issues in this conflict include informal settlement and overdevelopment, livelihoods at stake, legal and cultural conflict, and the broader context of environmental conservation. The community argues for extended timelines and dialogue acknowledging their deep-rooted presence and contributions.
Meanwhile, the Amali project near the Impossibles beach is replacing low-rise tourist compounds with larger, denser resorts, excavating about half of a 50-meter-high cliff to construct villa units within it. This project raises concerns about the possibility of widespread cliff excavation and destruction if left unchecked. The collapse of the cliff due to the Amali project underscores the fragility of the coastal environment and the importance of preserving it.
The Bingin Beach settlement, which began development in the 1970s as an informal surfer hub, represents an incremental and context-sensitive approach to development. On the other hand, the Amali project's large-scale, environmentally destructive approach highlights the need for careful urban planning and adherence to environmental considerations in development projects.
The Bingin Beach settlement is part of Bali's surfing heritage and should be saved, not replaced with large-scale, destructive development. A spokesperson for the traders argues that most of the businesses are locally owned, and livelihoods are at stake. The settlement caters to a broader tourist market, with some rooms going for upwards of US$150 per night.
The Morabito Art Cliff hotel, a recent addition in the Bingin Beach escarpment settlement, rises more than six storeys and obstructs the natural landscape and views. The demolition of this hotel could set a precedent for containing the Bingin settlement to a sustainable scale.
This complex struggle between formal legal frameworks, informal community livelihoods, environmental conservation, and contested development pressures in Bali’s popular yet fragile coastal tourism zones is a reminder of the importance of balanced and sensitive development strategies. The authorities are also reviewing illegal constructions in other popular beach areas such as Balangan and Melasti, with more demolition warnings issued to enforce environmental preservation and regulatory compliance amid growing concerns about overtourism and the sustainability of coastal developments.
- The SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) is particularly relevant in the ongoing dispute at Bingin Beach, as it involves balancing environmental conservation, economic growth, and cultural preservation.
- The science of environmental-science plays a crucial role in understanding the fragile coastal environment, the impacts of climate-change, and the potential risks associated with construction in these areas, like the Amali project.
- The financing and investing in real-estate projects should be mindful of the environment and the long-term sustainability of developments, as seen in the contrast between the incremental Bingin Beach settlement and the large-scale Amali project.
- As the sports tourism sector, such as surfing, contributes significantly to Bali's economy, it is important to consider investing in environmental-science to ensure the preservation of popular surf spots and the sustainability of the industry.
- The controversy over the Bingin Beach settlement can serve as a case study in the field of finance, particularly in sustainable investing, to illustrate the potential risks and returns involved in projects that prioritize environmentally destructive development versus careful urban planning and conservation.
