Park ‘n Shop

(8/24/2012)

Bisnis Bali reports of a growing controversy surrounding plans to convert the Central Parking Area in Kuta (Sentral Parkir Kuta) into a shopping mall.

Wayan Puspa Negara, a member of Commission C of the Badung House of Representatives (DPRD-Badung) is insisting that the current parking area must be preserved and even enlarged in order to accommodate growing traffic flows in Kuta.

Speaking on Tuesday, August 21, Puspa Negara said the entire Kuta area suffers from a chronic lack of parking space, requiring the creation of dedicated parking facilities that will support business activities in that area.

He said need for parking lots will be even more acute if plans to make major roads in Kuta “parking free.” Prohibiting all street side parking is under consideration for Jalan Legian, Jalan Bakungsari, Jalan Buni Sari, Jalan Padma, Jalan Melasti, Jalan Padma Utara and Jalan Arjuna

Puspa Negara labeled efforts to change the function of the current Kuta Central Parking to a mall as little more that another case of arrogance on the part of an investor. He said a change in function from parking to commercial use of the area use could only be done if ecological, social and cultural considerations were ignored.

“Because of this, I am very much in disagreement if the current size of the Kuta Central Parking area is reduced. Moreover, I am of the view that the government’s agreements to provide a principal agreement and issue a building permit for the new mall needs to be reviewed and evaluated,” declared Puspa Negara.

It is both ironic and symbolic of the current path being taken by development in Bali that in the 1995 Zoning Plan for Badung the Central Parking area was originally designated as a “green zone” on which any kind of development was forbidden. The Badung government later changed the zoning status of the area allowing a parking lot in order to facilitate the rapid development underway in Kuta.

Puspa Negara called on PT KSM – the company holding the concession on parking on the land, to understand the current traffic conditions in Kuta and not proceed with their plans to replace the parking lot with a shopping mall.