Regarding the North Coast Sea Wall Project, Central Java DPRD Reminds That Residents Must Be Involved
The Deputy Speaker of the Central Java Provincial DPRD, Sarif Abdillah, has requested that the development project for the giant sea wall (GSW) on the northern coast of Java, particularly in Central Java, incorporates the aspirations of local residents. He expressed that he does not want the GSW to be driven solely by a project-oriented mindset.
Sarif stated that he welcomes the planned construction of the GSW along the northern coast (Pantura) of Java. In his view, the project could eventually resolve the issues of tidal flooding (rob) that frequently occur along the Java northern coast.
“Almost all of our coasts face problems, including flooding and tidal surges,” said Sarability, on Sunday (4/10/2026).
However, given that the GSW is a massive, long-term project, Sarif emphasised that the Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) process must be carried out in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations. “We must ensure that the AMDAL assessment is not merely subjective or purely project-minded. We hope that the actual environmental situation is properly scrutinised,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of active and meaningful community involvement in the GSW development. “What the community needs must be communicated openly. We must be able to communicate with stakeholders, especially the residents living in the areas affected by the giant sea wall today,” Sarif added.
The Maleh Dadi Segoro (MDS) coalition has highlighted concerns regarding the GSW plan for Segment 12, which covers the coasts of Kendal Regency, Semarang City, and Demak Regency, spanning 33.5 kilometres. The MDS coalition, comprising several non-governmental organisations including the Semarang Legal Aid Institute (LBH Semarang) and the Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) Central Java, has identified at least six issues within the Segment 12 GSW project, one of which is the lack of meaningful community participation.
Representing the MDS Coalition, Adib Saifin Nu’man revealed that the pre-construction phase (preparation and planning) for Segment 12 began between 2025 and 2026. The construction process is planned to run from 2027 (Phase 1) to 2033 (Phase 2), with further development scheduled for 2034–2045.
Based on testimonies from residents and observations of several public consultation forums and documents, Adib stated that the MDS Coalition identified six problems in the Segment 12 GSW project plan. The first finding is the intentional restriction of community participation.
Adib revealed that the MDS Coalition noted at least three forums initiated by the North Java Coast Management Authority (BOPPJ) to discuss the GSW project plan for Segment 12. The first forum, titled “Urun Rembuk” (Community Discussion), was held from July to August 2026 in Semarang City.
The second forum, titled “Public Consultation for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (KLHS) of North Java Coast Management,” was held on 24 September 2026 at the Central Java Provincial Environmental and Forestry Office. The third forum, titled “Public Consultation for the Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL) of Semarang Bay Phase 1,” was held in three locations: Kendal Regency on 28 September 2026, Demak Regency on 30 September 2026, and Semarang City on 2 October 2026.
“We assess that from the beginning, the residents (organisations or groups) invited to these three forums were intentionally restricted,” Adib stated in a written statement received by Republika on Sunday (4/10/2026).
He noted that in the case of the “Urun Rembuk” forum, for example, the selection of locations did not tend to be based on which areas were most severely affected by environmental issues. Residents of Timbulsloko Village (and particularly the Dukuh hamlet), whose location has been designated as the groundbreaking area for the GSW project, have not yet been consulted.
“As for the public consultation forums, we identified that the residents or organisations invited were very limited, meaning they do not represent the community affected by the project. The same applies to the third forum: the public consultation in Semarang City was limited to only one or two organisations and groups with a concern for the northern coast of Java,” Adib said.