RECORD BALI FLOODS EXPOSE CONTRACTOR FAILURE
Kinnara CEO filmed flooded villas allegedly built by his own terminated builder
SEMINYAK, BALI — Following one of the heaviest rainfall events recorded in recent years across Bali, Lux Property Group has confirmed that its Hotel K Seminyak project suffered no flooding, while only limited sections of its Lux Village development experienced temporary water pooling.
But what began as a weather event has quickly evolved into a fresh controversy.
The Irony
According to Lux Property, the only areas affected were villas constructed by former contractor Made, who was terminated from three Lux projects last year amid disputes over workmanship, delays, and advance payments.
Lux is currently pursuing Made for approximately AUD $1.45 million in advance payments through litigation.
Sources close to the matter allege that the legal action is being financially supported by Kinnara, the development group previously removed from joint projects with Lux.
Yet in a twist that has stunned industry observers, Kinnara CEO Adrian Campbell was recently seen entering the Lux Village site and filming the flooded sections.
Lux representatives allege the filming was conducted without authorization and focused specifically on the areas built under Made’s supervision.
What the footage reportedly did not disclose, according to Lux, was that:
•The flooded villas were part of legacy construction
•The elevation levels were set by the terminated contractor
•New construction zones completed by Lux’s replacement engineering team did not flood
Engineering Standards vs. Legacy Build
Lux states that after terminating Made, it implemented revised elevation and drainage standards across all new builds.
“All new sections were properly raised above historical flood lines and experienced no water intrusion,” a company spokesperson said.
Industry builders familiar with Seminyak note that elevation margins can be the difference between dry floors and short-term pooling during extreme rainfall events.
Rectification works in the affected legacy sections are now being finalized, including drainage upgrades and elevation adjustments.
Context: Bali’s Flood Pattern
Flooding in Seminyak during intense rain is not uncommon. Much of the area sits low, and when rainfall is extreme, temporary water pooling can occur across roads, homes, and developments.
Unlike prolonged flooding events in Australia or other regions, Bali’s drainage patterns typically allow water to dissipate within hours.
“This was short-duration pooling during exceptional rainfall,” Lux founder Jamie McIntyre said. “It was not structural flooding and normal conditions returned quickly.”
Observers note that large sections of Seminyak experienced similar temporary flooding during the same storm.
Rising Tensions
The incident comes amid ongoing legal and commercial disputes between Lux, former contractor Made, and entities linked to Kinnara.
Critics have questioned the optics of a rival CEO filming selective sections of a site tied to a contractor now under litigation, without disclosing the contractor’s role in the original build levels.
Supporters of Lux argue the event ultimately highlights the effectiveness of its new construction standards.
The Bigger Picture
As Bali continues rapid development across low-lying tourism zones, elevation engineering and drainage planning are becoming critical differentiators between projects.
In this case, Lux insists the record rainfall did not expose systemic failure, but rather legacy construction issues now being rectified.
Meanwhile, the dispute between Lux, its former contractor, and Kinnara appears far from over.