Beach occupied by a private residential complex in Bodrum will be turned into public beach
Action has been taken against the occupation of a beach by a private residential complex in Bodrum, making it exclusively available to its residents. The Ministry has stepped in by leasing the beach from the treasury to transform it into a public beach.
In the Gökçebel area of Yalıkavak, Bodrum, affiliated with the province of Muğla, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has thwarted the occupation of a beach by a private residential complex. This complex had closed off approximately 3,379 square meters of sandy beach, including the coastal area with a pier, sunbathing terraces, a cafe, and changing cabins, limiting it for the exclusive use of the complex and blocking public access with potted plants.
The move came in response to numerous complaints from local residents who frequent the bay for swimming and the nesting place of Mediterranean seals. Complaints were lodged with the local municipality, district governorship, governorship, BİMER (Presidential Communication Center), CİMER (Prime Ministry Communication Center), and the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.
Ateş Balcıoğlu, a 54-year-old retired communications specialist among the complainants, stated, ‘The private residential complex closed off the most beautiful public beach of the heavenly bay, and not content with that, they also enclosed the beach with potted plants and stationed a guard. It became a dream for people to swim here during the summer.’
Balcıoğlu continued: We applied to the relevant authorities with a collective petition, reporting the situation. Eventually, they heard our voice, and a notification was issued to the private residential complex, instructing them to remove their occupation and take away their materials. However, two months have passed, and there has been no action yet. We heard that the Ministry is going to establish a public beach, and we are very happy about it. A publicly accessible, waterfront area that belongs to the public has been used by private individuals within the private residential complex for years.”
