Inside the debate over the glass elevator Bali is building on the 'world's most beautiful beach'

ABC NEWS (Australia)

For 18 months, a controversial construction project — a 182-metre glass lift — has taken shape on Bali's Kelingking Beach. This week, the provincial government suspended the works as it assesses the project's permits.

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00:00Clinking Beach here has been voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world,

00:07but it's currently in a state of limbo because of this.

00:11A 180-metre glass lift that's being constructed,

00:15and Balinese officials have this week taken the decision to suspend construction.

00:20Clinking Beach is on Noosa Panida, about 40 minutes by boat from Bali,

00:25and many flock here for the unique shape of the beach and its striking landscape.

00:29For many tourists, it's an Instagrammer's or TikToker's paradise.

00:32But most don't actually set foot down on the beach.

00:34It's a rickety, difficult path to get down.

00:37So a Chinese company has tried to solve that issue with the construction of this glass lift.

00:42You can see the partially constructed shaft rising up from the beach where it's been built into the limestone.

00:48It's been constructed in a bid to drive more tourists to Noosa Panida,

00:52but now with this suspension, it comes after a massive backlash in recent months.

00:57People have been saying the lift is destroying the beauty of the site.

01:00The head of Bali's planning committee has said the suspension is because of both environmental reasons

01:05and also because the permit process hasn't been carried out properly.

01:09Independent Senator Nilo Jelantek has been rallying against this site for a long time

01:14and says that it severely undermines the beauty of the island.

01:17We don't need to build this. We need to build a beautiful road, a beautiful access, a beautiful public facility,

01:24a proper water, you know, a clean water for the people, school.

01:29Environmental groups have also been warning about many issues.

01:32The fragile landscape, the risk of erosion, the environmental impact and safety risks.

01:37The landscape is extremely fragile and vulnerable.

01:42So when you add infrastructure in an area like that, for instance, a 180-metre tall glass lift,

01:48you're talking about potentially uncontrollable environmental impacts down the line.

01:53There's no shortage of calls from people to tear it down.

02:05Bali's planning committee says that it's going to summon the parties involved while it figures out the next steps.

02:11Ali-Kahla to the Quando-Kahla.

02:18Ali-Kahla.

02:23Ali-Kahla.

02:32Ali-Kahla.

02:34Ali-Kahla.

02:35Ali-Kahla.

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