Unlicensed lodges on the rise at popular beaches

Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

The rocky beaches of Bali's southern coastline have long been a shared secret of surfers seeking the perfect break.

Dreamland, Bingin and Padang-Padang beaches near Bali's southernmost beach, Uluwatu, are like sugar to ants for surfers from around the world. Once the secret surf spots of just a few surfers, the beaches are now renowned worldwide, with regular surf competitions held there.

However, with rising fame comes rapid development, threatening the very source of the attraction to the area; the secluded pristine beaches.

The development of lodges without permits in Dreamland, Bingin and Padang-Padang began in the 1990s. With the exception of Dreamland, the construction of unlicensed lodges has increased with the rising popularity of the beaches.

Under Badung regency's spatial planning, Bingin and Padang-Padang are classified as limited areas; where construction is prohibited.

In Dreamland, officials are currently tearing down by-the-beach lodges and small shops as construction of a massive resort there continues.

Developers of the Pecatu Indah Resort this year continued the construction a golf course, condominium and marina complex on a 650-hectare Indian Ocean beachfront property.

The project, conceived by former president Soeharto's son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, began in 1997 but was stalled after the Asian financial crisis and the toppling of Soeharto.

Many warung and lodges -- mostly owned by locals -- that been evicted from the area and have migrated to the neighboring beach of Bingin.

Bingin beach, located under a cliff, has perfect waves for surfing. During the 1990s, locals started building small cottages on the sides of the cliff, with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean.

This perfect spot has attracted other locals and foreigners to also set up cottages, resulting in dozens of unlicensed accommodation premises on both sides of the cliff and also on top of it.

During the months of March to June, the places are packed with surfers from around the world.

Although a number of construction projects are currently underway at Bingin, Badung Regency's Housing, Planning and Urban Development agency head Suwandi said his office had never released permits to build there.

"It's a limited area, meaning there should be zero construction there," he said.

Suwandi said Bingin and Padang-Padang were supporting areas in the South Kuta district.

"The steep cliffs there have been deemed unsafe to build on, with the possibility of a landslide," Suwandi said.

However, locals at Bingin refuse to admit the cottages were built without permits.

Gusti, who works at one of the cliff-side cottages, said all the cottages had received permits from the village heads.

"We pay monthly fees to the village leaders," he said.

Gusti said the land at Bingin was customary land owned by village heads.

"I do not know whether the village leaders forwarded the official paperwork to the regency administration or not," he said.

Gusti said the cottages were mostly rented by surfers.

"The cottages are also a source of income for the local people here. If they don't work at the cottages, they would have to work in their fields," he said.

Suwandi said the situation was a dilemma for the regency administration.

"The cottages have long been there and have fed the people. So, we need to be really careful about what action we take," he said.

"If it is a good place for tourism to be developed, we should develop it. But, with proper planning."

The regency administration, he said, had spoken to village leaders and is currently looking into whether it is possible to establish Bingin as a tourism location.

"We have yet to come to a final decision," Suwandi said.

Meanwhile, as officials conduct their research, laborers in Bingin are diligently working on a new cottage and gardeners are planting tropical plants at another; all in an area where construction is allegedly prohibited.