Gunungkidul Regency Government Meets On The Rock Owner Regarding Environmental Permit
Gunungkidul Regent Endah Subekti Kuntariningsih revealed that she has met with On The Rock management regarding the outstanding environmental permit. Additionally, Endah disclosed that 13 tourism industry locations in Gunungkidul lack complete permits.
“Yesterday, in accordance with the order from GKR Mangkubumi, we were officially instructed to immediately regulate these 13 locations,” Endah told journalists in Wonosari, Gunungkidul, on Saturday (14 March 2026).
Regarding the 13 locations, Endah did not provide detailed explanations. However, the Gunungkidul Regency Government has sent official letters and held meetings with the parties involved.
“The instruction has been implemented by the Regency Government. The first phase involved sending letters, and there have been several meetings to continue the licensing process,” she said.
According to Endah, one such meeting was with the On The Rock owner, which took place on Friday (13 March).
“So this is already being processed. All departments overseeing licensing have held meetings. On Friday morning, we even held a meeting with stakeholders and the owner,” she stated.
Endah noted that the parties have committed to resolving the licensing issues.
“We will wait for the follow-up. The process will take some time because there are various permits needed regarding spatial planning, land use, and so forth,” she said.
Regarding why On The Rock lacks an environmental permit, Endah attributed it to the management applying through Online Single Submission (OSS), the integrated electronic licensing system.
“Because they used OSS for licensing, it is not just about one permit. For example, franchises or modern shops have regulations stipulating minimum distances from markets and schools under the regional regulation,” she explained.
“Once these establishments proliferated, when I was an assembly member and we invited the trade department, it turned out this job creation law cannot be intervened by local governments,” she continued.
However, Endah highlighted a positive aspect of OSS. The system minimises bribery between business owners and officials.
“The benefit is that there are no person-to-person transactions with direct eye contact and money changing hands. But the risk is that once they receive a permit, they perceive they are allowed to begin construction, but we are currently regulating all of this,” she said.
Previously reported, the Gunungkidul Regency Environmental Agency stated that it has not yet received an environmental permit for On The Rock at Drini Beach. The Investment and Integrated Licensing Service Agency stated that On The Rock is currently processing a spatial conformity permit.