- FROM time to time, Sanur Beach is threatened by abrasion that potentially narrows down the beach for visitors
- Government through Bali Beach Conservation Project intervenes by installing wave breakers
Paradise Island (Bali) is widely known as a famous tourist destination. Bali’s tourism industry has contributed greatly to the local and national economy. Unfortunately, this industry tends to be concentrated in the southern region which includes Sanur Beach, Nusa Dua Beach, and Kuta Beach.
In general, Bali’s beaches include coral beaches with white sandy beaches and are widely used as tourist beaches. To support tourism development, many supporting facilities and infrastructures have been built such as hotels, restaurants, shops, beach recreation facilities and airports. Most of the supporting facilities are built on the beach. Along with the increase in coastal development activities, it is inevitable that it will also cause coastal areas such as abrasion and pollution.
To minimize and prevent further damages the government undertakes development activities to secure the coast from the attacks or further damages due to abrasion in stages and according to priority scale.
Priority treatment is carried out with coastal conservation activities in Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua Beaches. This measure is intended to rehabilitate the environment and reduce damage due to various impacts of coastal abrasion.
The Bali Beach Conservation Project working on this project is mainly aimed at preventing abrasion which has eroded several beaches in Bali since 1970. The beach conservation project was carried out considering that 70 km of the total 430 km of beaches in Bali and Nusa Penida are very vulnerable to erosion. There are 38 beach locations identified to be damaged. Conservation priority is given to the coastal areas of Sanur, Nusa Dua and Kuta.
Conservation on Sanur Beach took place in 2001-2004. The work involved making large-scale corals in coastal areas that are prone to abrasion due to the harsh impact of the waves. Similarly, it was accompanied with the manufacture of breakwaters and gazebo buildings in crowded areas of visitors who usually bathe or swim like the beach in front of Jalan Hang Tuah, Sindu Beach to Mertasari Beach at the southern end. Today, visitors can have promenade, swim or relax convenientlt on the beach in different atmosphere.
In the meantime, for Nusa Dua Beach, it was done in 2001-2004. Total construction for the conservation project package in the Nusa Dua area reaches 6.4 km between Nusa Dua Beach and Puri Tanjung Hotel. The Nusa Dua Beach conservation project was carried out by filling 40 meters of beach sand towards the sea. Sand was taken from the sea in the distance of 4 km from the shoreline.
With this project it is expected that the beach can be safe from threats or at least slow down or minimize abrasion to create a sustainable beach on one side. While on the other hand, visitors feel safe and comfortable when enjoying the sensation of swimming or bathing with family on the beach.
References:
https://www.pu.go.id/berita/view/3412/proyek-konservasi-pantai-di-bali (viewed July 13, 2020)
