Iconic Bali beach ‘ruined' after businesses demolished
The destruction began on Monday morning as footage emerged of authorities breaking through locked doors and destroying business infrastructure with hammers.
The demolition notice comes at a peak time of travel to the island for Aussies, so travellers have been warned that Bingin may not be accessible over the coming weeks.
The drastic action begins after dozens of businesses were issued demolition notices in the last two months and were given time to make adjustments in accordance with building regulations.
Bali's civil police unit, the Satpol PP, found in an investigation that more than 40 buildings in the Bingin Beach area were violating spatial planning laws and building regulations.
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After weeks of back-and-forth negotiations with desperate business owners attempting to halt the demolition orders, authorities have drawn a line in the sand.
'It is true that we have received a warrant for the demolition of the violating building at Bingin Beach,' Head of the Badung PP Police, I Gusti Agung Ketut Suryanegara, told reporters, according to the Bali Sun.
'We immediately sent a notification letter to the owners of the building in question, stating that the demolition will begin on July 21, 2025, and continue until it is completed.'
With its pristine white sand and world-class barrelling lefts, Uluwatu's Bingin Beach has been a much-loved holiday destination for Aussies to enjoy the surf spots — Impossibles and Bingin— or soak up the laid-back atmosphere. Aerial view of Bingin beach in Bali, Indonesia. Credit: Adobe / pierrick
The demolition notices, issued via letter, posters, and WhatsApp messages, affect 45 buildings, including villas, homestays, restaurants, and other tourist facilities.
The violations included breaches of spatial planning rules, environmental laws, and alleged encroachment on state land.
'We did this notification in various ways, in order to minimise the reason for ignorance during the execution process,' Head of Investigation Ida Bagus Ratu told local media.
One Bingin Beach business owner shared his frustration with reporters.
'If we are considered wrong because we occupy the country's land, then where is the country when everything has been running for over 30 years?' the business owner said. Surfing legend Kelly Slater has aired his frustration at the demolition plans. Credit: Kelly Slater / Instagram
Eleven-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater is among those in the global surfing community voicing concern on social media.
'Awful to hear and see that the beachfront at Bingin in Bali has been bought up and all the local (eateries) and other businesses will be demolished to make room for some kind of beach club and not sure what else?' he said, alluding to circulating rumours that the removals may be linked to plans for a luxury beach club, though authorities have denied this according to News.com.
'Bali has been completely mishandled and ruined by foreign interests in recent years. I hope something can be done to retain the culture and beauty of what attracted everyone there in the first place.'
Bingin Beach is only reachable via steep staircases which traverse through the cliffside buildings marked for demolition and the state of future beach access is unclear.
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