DENPASAR, BALINEWS.ID – The planned expansion of Finns Beach Club in the coastal area of Berawa Beach, Badung Regency, has drawn strong opposition from the Bali Executive Board of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI). The environmental group argues that the project’s Environmental Impact Analysis (ANDAL) and Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans (RKL–RPL) pose serious risks to environmental sustainability in South Bali.

The formal objection was submitted by WALHI Bali during a forum reviewing the environmental documents, organized by the Bali Provincial Forestry and Environment Agency (DKLH) on December 18, 2025. The forum was attended by stakeholders from multiple institutions, spanning the provincial government and the Badung Regency administration.

WALHI Bali Executive Director Made Krisna “Bokis” Dinata stated that the organization identified a number of fundamental weaknesses in the ANDAL and RKL–RPL documents for the development of restaurants and supporting facilities at Finns Beach Club by PT Pantai Semara Nusantara.

One of the main concerns highlighted is the project’s water supply plan, which relies entirely on deep groundwater extraction (deep wells) during both construction and operational phases. According to the documents, daily water demand during full operation is projected to reach approximately ±659.44 cubic meters per day.

“The ANDAL and RKL–RPL documents for the development of restaurants and supporting facilities by Finns Beach Club show a single dependence on groundwater use, without alternative sources such as PDAM or rainwater harvesting. This is extremely dangerous if implemented in South Badung, which is already experiencing a structural water deficit,” Bokis stressed.

WALHI Bali argued that this water supply strategy contradicts the principles of water resource conservation and is inconsistent with the Strategic Environmental Assessment (KLHS) of the Bali Provincial Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD). The KLHS explicitly states that the Sarbagita area, including Badung Regency, is under high water stress due to tourism expansion.

WALHI also pointed out that the ANDAL and RKL–RPL documents themselves acknowledge the potential decline in groundwater levels as a significant impact of the Finns Beach Club expansion. However, this risk is not supported by adequate follow-up impact analysis.

“In coastal areas like Berawa, declining groundwater levels are closely linked to seawater intrusion. The mitigation claims presented in the document are merely normative,” Bokis emphasized.

Various studies indicate that coastal aquifers in South Bali are highly vulnerable to seawater intrusion, particularly due to intensive borewell use by the tourism sector. Such impacts are likely to be felt first by local communities through the degradation of shallow wells, while business operators still have the option to drill deeper or purchase water.

Similar concerns were raised by the Bali Environmental Advocacy Working Committee (KEKAL Bali). KEKAL Bali Advocacy Division member I Made Juli Untung Pratama assessed that the disaster risk analysis in the Finns Beach Club ANDAL and RKL–RPL documents is also very weak.

He explained that although the project site is located in an area prone to flooding, coastal abrasion, and tsunamis, the disaster analysis presented is largely descriptive and administrative in nature.

“The ANDAL and RKL–RPL documents fail to link massive development in the area with increased surface runoff, reduced infiltration, and changes in coastal morphology. This makes disaster mitigation reactive rather than preventive,” Untung Pratama explained.

In addition, the flood analysis is said to be limited only to the project site, without considering the regional drainage system or the carrying capacity of water regulation services in Badung Regency, which has officially been classified as low in Bali’s water carrying capacity status documents.

KEKAL Bali further warned that the water crisis and disaster risks carry serious social implications, ranging from potential conflicts over water use and unequal access to resources, to increased vulnerability among coastal communities. However, these aspects are not substantively addressed in the ANDAL and RKL–RPL documents.

Based on these findings, WALHI Bali urged the Bali Provincial Forestry and Environment Agency to take a firm stance on the Finns Beach Club environmental documents.

Krisna “Bokis” Dinata emphasized that the government must reject and declare the ANDAL and RKL–RPL documents unfeasible, refrain from issuing environmental approvals, and halt the development of coastal tourism facilities that are deemed to exacerbate South Bali’s environmental crisis.

“If this document is forced to be declared feasible, then all environmental and social impacts that occur in the future will become the full responsibility of the government and the project proponent,” he added.

The letter of rejection from WALHI Bali has been formally submitted and directly received by Ida Ayu Dewi Putri Ary, who chaired the environmental document review forum and represented the Bali Provincial Forestry and Environment Agency. (*)