Ambition of Buleleng government to build a number of prestigious projects is not supported with sufficient financing. Within the last two years the government has planned to start a number of new projects and continue a number of others which are not completed, in ambition to improve the image of Buleleng regency as an advanced area. Unfortunately limitation of 2009 budget forces the government to suspend the plans.

There are at least three large projects in Buleleng which have been expected to boost the hegemony to show that Buleleng is an advanced regency. Those projects are an international swimming pool on 1.6 hectare of land plot in Banyuasri, marina for cruise ship at Celukan Bawang harbor, and expansion of Letkol Wisnu Airport at Sumberkima village, Gerokgak.

There are many more planed project which have never been started including a yard close to Weda Purana Area at Banyusari, an amusement facility similar to Jakarta’s Ancol at Pemuteran, art center at Bungkulan, stopover area with the highest Panji Sakti statue at the peak of Wanagiri, and many more. Unfortunately those projects which have been ambiriously planned has never been brought into realization. The reason is very limited budget.

The first three projects – swimming pool, marina, and runway extension – which have already got funding allocation are predicted to be suspended in 2009. The government budget for 2009 does not allocate further funding for the project. Allocated 8.5 billion rupiah for runway extension is only sufficient for land clearance only.

The swimming pool project requires about 16 billion rupiah. Extension of the airport has once got one billion, and will get an additional 8.5 billion next year, which will only enough to cover the cost of land clearance. The marina project does not have any funding so far and the regency government is considering to get funding assistance from the provincial government.

Local house member, Made Agus Yudiarsa suggests the government to start looking into other ways to het those projects going on, including venturing a third party. The house achowledge that financially the government can get one projects to go on through final completion, however if all available funding is directed to one projects only, there will be nothing left for other ones. It is suggested to invite investors to cooperate in funding the projects as allowed by the new regulation PP 50/2007.

Information collected by Bali Post shown that there are no investors interested in taking over funding of the swimming pool project. However for marina and airport projects, the fovernment seems to bluntly follow investors’ will. The government is heating ahead on air-strip extension in response to insisting investor which plans to open a flying school. The investor even threated to revoke the flying school plan if the extension is not completed on time. Sililar situation applies to the marina project where the government seems to be directed by Japanese cruise ship operator.