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Bali halts Chinese construction of glass lift on cliffside

Kelly Ng
DPRD Bali A top view of the first lift shafts cutting through a cliff on Kelingking BeachDPRD Bali
Locals and tourists say the glass lift destroys the area's natural beauty and accelerates erosion

Bali authorities have suspended the construction of a 182m (597 ft) cliffside glass lift on one of the Indonesian province's most-photographed cliffs, after it sparked outrage over concerns of environmental harm.

The lift on Kelingking Beach, to be built by Chinese developer China Kaishi Group, was supposed to make it easier for visitors to reach the beach.

But photographs of the first lift shafts cutting through the iconic cliff - nicknamed the "T-Rex cliff" for its shape - have gone viral on social media, angering locals and tourists who say it destroys the area's natural beauty and accelerates erosion.

Authorities have also found that the project did not obtain the necessary permits.

"It's a shame that the beautiful view of Kelingking Beach has been destroyed by the lift project," local resident Made Sediana told the Bali Sun newspaper. "Tourists come to Nusa Penida to enjoy the beautiful panorama, not the lifts."

"It's stupid. Tourists come to Bali to enjoy its natural environment because their own countries are already filled with high-rise buildings. This just makes it even worse," wrote another.

Bali senator Niluh Djelantik, who has been vocal about her disapproval of the glass lift, said: "Long before this lift was built, we had already voiced our opposition. The risks are too great."

"Enjoy Bali's beauty wisely; don't create access that seems to be leading tourists to the gates of disaster," she wrote in a Facebook post a day before authorities announced the suspension.

It is unclear how long the suspension will last.

A view of T-Rex cliff before the construction of the glass lift
A view of T-Rex cliff before the construction of the glass lift

Some people urged authorities to repair the stairs connecting the cliff to the beach instead of pursuing these "vanity projects". The lift project cost $12m (£5.8m), according to local media reports.

It currently takes between 45 and 60 minutes to hike from the cliff to the beach via a steep trail, while the return hike up the cliff can take up to two hours.

Others also aired concerns that making it easier to reach the beach could increase the risks of swimming accidents.

While it offers stunning views, swimming is not allowed at Kelingking Beach because of its narrow coastline and big waves - still, many ignore these warnings, resulting in a spate of deaths and injuries.

Chinese investments in Bali have been growing. For instance, Chinese firm ChangYe Construction Group has invested $3b to build Bali's second airport, in a joint ventures with local firm PT BIBU Panji Sakti.