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Keramas Development – Interview with Luke Egan
By Kirk Owers | 30 August 2010 |
 Poolside snaps soon to be on the cards thanks to Komune... Jake Patterson. As mentioned in a previous anecdote there is an upmarket, surfer-orientated resort planned for Keramas, the high performance reef break on Bali’s east coast. It shares its name – Komune – with a newly opened Gold Coast resort. Both are co-owned by Luke Egan, property developer Tony Cannon and ex Fitness First CEO Tony de Leed. Tracks spoke to Luke to find out if this was the beginning of a Bukit-style development of the east coast’s surf breaks or a good thing for locals and upmarket travellers. Or both. What type of development is planned for Keramas and where will it be located? We own the land behind the warungs at Keramas and we want to do something there that’s low key, that fits in with the area, and that can’t be seen from the ocean. It’s going to be solar powered and have eco concerns in mind. It’ll be upmarket for the surfer or family who want to escape the hustle and bustle of Kuta or even the Bukit these days. We really want to help out the local people – we want to path the warungs and clean up the river and educate them about environmental issues like burning rubbish.
There is a green corridor but not where our land is. The land has been rezoned differently since the new road went in. Are you concerned the resort will led expansion and over-development like we’ve seen on the Bukit? You can’t control what will happen but we really want to lead by example and show what can be done. We don’t want to turn it into another Kuta or a Dreamland disaster and have made that clear to everyone we’ve dealt with. I’ve been going to Bali since I was 12 and I really want it to be like the older, more traditional resorts. When we opened Komune on the Gold Coast we flew some of the Keramas warung owners over and we’ve really tried to keep them involved in everything we’re doing. Other surfers have land near Keramas but I’m not sure what they have planned. Do you have an opinion about the amount of development that has occurred on the Bukit Peninsula (Uluwatu to Dreamland) in the last 10 years? There’s been some nice places built and there’s been some disasters. What’s happened to Dreamland is just a catastrophe. The waves are more crowded on the Bukit sure, but before we think about us we have to think about the Balinese. They really rely on tourism, its very important to them. I’ve spoke to all the Balinese people that I know and respect over there. Guys Like Rizal, who’s like the Lord Mayor of Bali, and they’re okay with it. So I’m pretty calm in my mind about what we are doing. I think if we can be smart about it we can do something that will enhance the area. See: komuneresorts.com |
Saya cinta Bali. Enough said.
its a pad so lukes mates & industry crew can own keramas & hang round the pool reinforcing their cultural psychoses & having little to do with real bali(where money,"lifestle" & the pursuit of leisure are not god,where god is all of this,as all of this)
petes god is obviously self importance & money,no pete they dont all need to grpw up to be paris hilton.tourism needs to be sustainable planet concious planning,not everybody gets everything they ever dreamed of...whick is what it has been thanks to thoughtless westerners.
look at the indos now.they all have crazy eyes with $ signs in them.selling your ricefields to build villas so you can buy a big truck & a flatscreen is not sustainable.hello!the world not ready for that slevel of consumerism or havent you noticed?so yeah luke go for it but talk to rastovich for gods sake.
and pete,get real.your insecurity(about the validity of your work) is showing.
They have spoken with Rizal who as mentioned, swings much weight in the surf community as a role model ,leader & advisor & has absolute access to others that matter.
Rizal himself is a wise person who deserves the respect he is shown both in the lineup & also in the community, the fact that Riz has shown support ensures this topic has been placed in the minds of the local surfers who are very aware of what is happening & the need to make sure they control or at least discuss future developments for Bali, after al it is their Island & we are visitors.
Continually including & involving the locals at the location is the other successful & correct thing that Luke has mentioned they are doing so hats off to you guys & wish you all the success.
There will always be haters, there will always be those that wish to believe that Bali should remain the way it was back then , the reality is that the world is moving forward & Bali is included.
The locals just like the rest of us who live on this planet , have needs,wants desires & wishes & in order to reach or fulfill these they must sustain there livelihoods & create relevant opportunities for them , their children & their children's children.
Old mate Fred Blood your words are harsh & comments absolutely misguided , take a moment to look in the water ways of Denpasar(these end up on the coast) & you will immediately see education is desperately needed NOW!! The piles burning are no longer harmless vegetation but vast amounts of plastics & other toxins that unfortunately to the uneducated when burnt are out of sight & therefore out of mind , yes just as the vegetation once was but with very different ramifications .
Living in Bali for more than 10years & the issues that have gone down during this time it is clear to see the Island & its people live for & from tourism , to stem the flow is not going to assist anyone as there will always be someone in line , what is needed is intelligent respectful individuals such as Luke & his partners that understand what they love about Bali , wish to be part of it & also appreciate that the locals & tourists alike wish to continue to enjoy all that is offered & what an awesome offer to come together , be educated & look to tomorrow with a clear understanding of what we do today absolutely impacts on tomorrow..
All the best guys ...
& to fred blood envy is not enjoyable , hatred is harsh so wake up in the morning & look to the sun, soak it up with a smile & then jump in the waves & think how awesome a life you have ...
Cheers Pete
Who’s scalping who? (Social Responsibility in Bali)
http://www.tirian.com/articles/personal-competence/corporate-social-responsibility-part-ii-whos-scalping-who/
Andrew Grant (Tirian)