Kate Peake to Chair Beetaloo Advisory Committee

Watertrust’s Kate Peake is bringing grounded insight to a new and significant role as Chair of an Advisory Committee supporting Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) Beetaloo monitoring R&D project.

The Committee will support this important phase of research, which will develop assessment protocols and baseline data for long-term environmental monitoring. The work is of great community interest, particularly in the context of emerging gas development in the Beetaloo, which has drawn strong attention from Traditional Owners and stakeholders across the Northern Territory and beyond.

The research will inform regional-scale monitoring of gas industry impacts, with a focus on water and related values. It’s a crucial step in responding to community concerns.

“As Chair, I’ll be working to ensure the Advisory Committee is guided by rigorous process, represents community interests, and supports transparent dialogue across sectors,” Kate said.

Kate’s recent participation in the Roper Water Forum and the NT Farmers’ Mataranka Roadshow has helped build her understanding of the region’s complex water landscape and strengthened her connection to the people and perspectives that will shape the Committee’s work. These events offered both complementary and competing views on water custodianship and management from Traditional Owners, agriculturalists, researchers and government representatives.

In May, Kate also attended a masterclass at the University of Canberra’s Centre for Deliberative Democracy, focused on how legitimacy and representation are built in complex, high-stakes decisions.

“Each of these experiences highlighted the importance of public participation in the development and implementation of public policy,” Kate said. “Bringing together different perspectives is essential to making sure CDU’s research is informed by local knowledge, transparent, and trusted by those most affected.”

Call Kate if you'd like to know more: 0402 351 498