Dok.1: The TRG CONCERN Unhas team, together with three Sociology students, conducted field interviews with the Untia community as part of a social study on coastal reclamation.
The Conflict and Natural Resources Management Research Group (TRG CONCERN) of Hasanuddin University conducted a preliminary social study in 2025 on the coastal reclamation plan for the development of the Untia area, Biringkanaya District, Makassar City. The Unhas research team was led by Dr. Sawedi Muhammad, M.Sc., with team members Suryanto Arifin, Hasriashari Rahim, and Andi Nurlela, and involved three Sociology students in field data collection. This study was carried out to ensure that coastal area development is assessed not only from technical and economic perspectives, but also by considering the social, cultural, ecological, and livelihood sustainability dimensions of the local community.
This research also involved three Sociology students in the field data collection process. Student participation served as part of academic learning while strengthening their social sensitivity to the dynamics of coastal communities. Together with the research team, students were involved in observing residential areas, documenting field conditions, and assisting in the interview process with residents and community leaders. Through this process, students not only learned about social research methods, but also gained direct understanding of fishermen’s challenges, the community’s basic needs, and the complexity of coastal development.
The study used a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews, limited participatory observation, and documentation. At the preliminary stage, the team interviewed 10 informants from various groups, including community leaders, religious leaders, fishermen, coastal women, youth, urban village officials, and environmental activists. Through this approach, TRG CONCERN Unhas sought to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how the people of Untia perceive the reclamation plan, including its potential social, economic, and ecological impacts, as well as forms of compensation considered fair by the community.
Dok. 2. The in-depth interview process with key informants explored community experiences, perceptions, and expectations regarding the reclamation plan.
Untia, an urban village in Biringkanaya District, has a distinctive social history. Most of its residents were relocated from Lae-Lae Island in 1998. The experience of relocation remains deeply embedded in the community’s memory and continues to influence how residents view new development plans. Mrs. Yani, Head of RT 02, recalled the relocation process by saying, “We are originally from Lae-Lae Island, but we were relocated here.” She also explained that some residents moved earlier because they felt pressured while still living on Lae-Lae Island.
For residents, relocation was not merely a change of residence, but also a major transformation in their social and economic lives. Untia’s muddy coastal environment has made it difficult for some fishers to go to sea as they did when they lived on Lae-Lae Island. This condition has encouraged some residents to shift their livelihoods to construction work, carpentry, informal labor, or small businesses. This long experience has made the current reclamation plan a sensitive issue, as some residents view it as potentially becoming another bitter experience if it is not accompanied by clear guarantees.
Preliminary findings show that the people of Untia continue to face significant socio-economic vulnerability. Most residents still depend on the sea for their livelihoods, but their catches are not always sufficient to meet family needs. One informant stated, “The main occupation is fishing. But here, the coast is muddy, so it is very difficult.” This statement illustrates that fishing identity remains strong, although local ecological conditions make livelihoods unstable.
Dok. 3. The muddy condition of the Untia coast is one of the main challenges for fishing activities and the sustainability of local livelihoods.
In addition to livelihood issues, access to basic needs is also a major concern. The community still faces problems related to clean water, decent housing, health facilities, and fishing infrastructure. In one interview, a coastal woman emphasized that residents are most concerned about “water and housing.” For women, reclamation can only be considered beneficial if it addresses household needs that have not yet been fulfilled, such as clean water, better housing, children’s education, and basic facilities for families.
TRG CONCERN Unhas also found that community attitudes toward reclamation are not uniform. Some fishers and community leaders tend to oppose the plan because they fear losing access to the sea, experiencing flooding, and being affected by mangrove degradation. Mr. Harin, Chair of the Rawe Datar Fishermen’s Group, argued that the previous relocation process had not been fully resolved. “The relocation from Lae-Lae Island to here has not yet been completed,” he said. This statement shows that the discourse on reclamation is still viewed through the long memory of development promises that have not been fully fulfilled.
On the other hand, some residents expressed conditional support. Youth groups, for example, see the possibility of job opportunities if development genuinely involves local residents. One young person from Untia stated, “If there is development, it would actually be good if the community is involved.” This expectation shows that reclamation is not completely rejected, but that the community demands involvement, clarity of benefits, and guarantees for livelihood sustainability.
Environmental aspects are also a major concern. Residents and environmental activists emphasized the importance of mangrove protection as a natural coastal barrier and an alternative source of livelihood. In one interview, residents noted that the remaining mangrove forests in Makassar are found in only a few areas, including Untia. Therefore, reclamation must pay attention to ecosystem protection to prevent further environmental damage.
Dok. 4. The mangrove area in Untia is an important concern because it functions as a coastal protector and an alternative source of livelihood for the community.
To clarify the field findings, the study results were also summarized in a thematic map of the reclamation requirements proposed by the Untia community. The map shows that community acceptance of reclamation depends heavily on four main dimensions. In the ecological dimension, residents emphasized the importance of preserving mangrove forests, preventing abrasion, and ensuring that waterways are not blocked. In the political dimension, the community called for an honest, transparent process that involves residents from the beginning. In the technical dimension, reclamation must be carried out properly and not merely by filling coastal areas. Meanwhile, in the socio-economic dimension, the community demanded tangible compensation, such as sea access, clean water, decent housing, fishing pier facilities, and alternative livelihood training.
Figure 1. Thematic map of the requirements for reclamation acceptance according to the Untia community, based on the results of the TRG CONCERN Unhas social study.
Through this study, TRG CONCERN Unhas emphasized that the reclamation of Untia Beach, if implemented, must be based on the principles of social justice, community participation, and environmental sustainability. The community demands a transparent process, mangrove protection, guaranteed sea access for fishers, clean water and decent housing improvements, pier construction, job opportunities for local residents, and written agreements between the government, developers, and the community. Without the fulfillment of these conditions, reclamation may be perceived as a new threat that repeats the difficult experience of relocation from Lae-Lae Island.
By involving lecturers, researchers, students, and coastal communities, this study is expected to serve as an important foundation for formulating more inclusive and sustainable coastal development policies. For TRG CONCERN Unhas, the voices of the Untia community must be placed at the center of assessing the social feasibility of reclamation. Coastal development should not create new wounds, but should instead bring real benefits, protection, and a better future for the people of Untia.
