NusaBali reports that Bali’s Benoa Port will soon be enlarged to cover an area of 80 hectares by dredging shallow areas of the harbor currently inaccessible to shipping.
Benoa’s current useable port area is 40 hectares while experts claim a port of 120 hectares is needed to provide access for international cruises ships.
Heskiel Sasian, the General Manager of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III – Benoa - the management authority for Benoa Harbor, defended the port expansion program saying it was in accordance with the master plan of the provincial government of Bali and the target of the Department of Culture and Tourism to increase the role of cruise tourism.
The development of Benoa would provide a convenient cruise terminal with a location just minutes from Bali’s international airport the Island’s main tourism areas.
Plans for the development of the Benoa port has reportedly commenced with the signing of a cooperation agreement with a consortium of 6 South Korean companies. Under the terms of that agreement the Korean partners will provide Rp. 3 trillion (US$326 million) for the development of port infrastructure and another Rp. 2 trillion (US$217 million) for the construction of 5-star accommodation and a traffic flyover.
Heskiel told NusaBali that the Department of Culture and Tourism has already provided Rp. 500 million (US$54,500) in funding that have permitted changes in the port basin in order that ship of up to 260 meters can now call on Benoa.
Source: www.balidiscovery.com
August 29th, 2008
Denpasar (ANTARA News)- Internal Affairs Minister H Mardiyanto inagurated the Bali Governor and his deputy for the 2008-2013 term at the Bali provincial legislative assembly (DPRD), here Thursday.
During the inaguration for Made Mangku Pastika and AAN Puspayoga as the elected Bali governor and deputy in Bali election July 9 2008, the Minister attached the position pin.
The Australian Ambassador for Indonesia, Bill Farmer, former Tourism Post and Telecommunication Minister, Joop Ave, and a number of fucntionaries in KODAM IX/Udayana and Bali police department attended the high level security session.
The Bali DPRD Secretary, AA Made Sunendra adimted that high security level held on the council`s building surrounding during the inaguration.
“This level of security was intended to anticipate any unwanted possibility might occur,” he said.
The parking lot in the council`s building is limited for 200 cars only, the rest are placed at Renon office area, Denpasar,” Sunendra said.
Due to the distance from the parking lot to the council`s “house”, few invitees had to get there on foot.
Meanwhile, the situation outside the building was steadly in control and the weather in Bali was bright and clear.
Mangku Pastika/Puspayoga which suppprted by the Strugling Indonesian Democracy Party (PDIP) elected as Bali Govenernor and deputy after defeating their two pairs of rival candidates strugled in the election.
Tjokorda Budi Suryawan-Nyoman Gede Suweta (Golongan Karya Party/Golkar)and Prof Dr Gede Winasa-I Gusti Bagus Alit Putra (Bali resurrection coalition-KKB) were their rivals candidates.
In the DPRD special session led by the House chairman, the elected Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa Mangku Pastika/Puspayoga took over from Drs Dewa Beratha/I GN Kesuma Kelakan which led Bali in the last five years.(*)
COPYRIGHT © 2008
Source: ANTARA News
August 29th, 2008