Saturday, August 25, 2018, was the final deadline for the location permit (Ijin lokasi) issued to PT Tirta Wahana Bali Internasional (PT TWBI) in its plans to reclaim and develop Benoa Bay into a massive tourism complex. With the deadline looming, Bali’s Governor and Deputy-Governor elect, Wayan Koster and Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, have seized the opportunity to publicly declare that the controversial reclamation project will not be allowed to proceed under the incoming provincial administration.

As reported by Balipost.com, the incoming Gubernatorial team apparently did not wish to by ForBALI Forum and the Association of Tradition Village Rejecting the Reclamation of Benoa Bay who were preparing public demonstration to coincide with the passing of the legal deadline.

Koster and Sukawati addressed the media on Friday, August 24, 2018, proclaiming the Benoa Bay reclamation will not be allowed to go ahead. Koster said it was now impossible for PT TWBI to extend the location permit.

Koster and Sukawati presented an eight-point statement regarding the future of Benoa Bay, underlining that the reclamation project can not be undertaken. At the same time, Bali’s next Governor called on those opposed the reclamation to hold no further mass demonstrations now that the project is no longer an issue.

Koster said that one of the first acts after his formal inauguration on September 17, 2018, he will issue a formal decree annulling any future plans for the reclamation of Benoa Bay.

Source: http://balidiscovery.com/news/benoa-bay-reclamation-officially-dead-in-the-water