Reframing Coastal Reclamation Policy: Socio-Ecological Implications of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model in the Surabaya Waterfront Land Project

Abstract

Coastal reclamation has emerged as a recurring urban strategy across the Global South, reshaping marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods under the banner of development. This study examines the governance of the Surabaya Waterfront Land (SWL) project in Indonesia through the analytical lens of Public– Private Partnership (PPP) and socio-ecological sustainability. Using a qualitative case study based on in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis, the research explores how institutional design and power relations shape ecological outcomes and community well-being. The findings reveal that, despite the formal PPP framework, governance practice remains dominated by private developers, with environmental assessment and community consultation largely symbolic. Weak accountability mechanisms have resulted in the marginalization of local fishing communities and the degradation of mangrove ecosystems. The study reframes PPP not merely as a financial or administrative tool, but as a contested political-ecological process that mediates access to coastal commons. It concludes by emphasizing the need for stronger environmental safeguards, transparent multi-stakeholder oversight, and inclusive participation to ensure that coastal reclamation projects contribute to social justice and ecological resilience.