Jakarta Sea Defence

(04-04-2011)

The north part of Jakarta is sinking due to deep groundwater extraction, mainly by industries. As a result, almost 30 % of Jakarta is situated below sea level and therefore under threat of flash floods from the sea.

The present and future threats can only be withstood if large-scale measures are implemented. These measures will have an impact on the Jakarta society, but can also create new opportunities for, for example, port expansion or large-scale land reclamation for expansion of the city.

To be prepared in the future, the implementation of the measures should have started yesterday.

The Jakarta Coastal Defence Strategy study aims at the choice for a strategic option for the long-term protection of Jakarta from the sea and wants to provide a road map to implement that option in the years to come. Of utmost importance for success is that the strategic option is supported by a broad range of stakeholders, who are involved in the process of drawing up the possible options.

This study started in September 2010 and will be completed in May 2011. It is financed by the Dutch Government. Witteveen+Bos provides two of the key positions in the project team, namely the coastal defence specialist and the spatial planning specialist.