One of the planning industry’s highest honours has been bestowed on Cairns Regional Council CEO Peter Tabulo.
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) awarded Mr Tabulo with a Fellowship, recognising his contribution to successful town planning across Queensland in a career that spans more than three decades.
Mr Tabulo accepted the honour at the PIA’s annual state conference in Mackay.
“It was a surprise and very humbling to be given this honour by people who are so highly respected within the planning industry,” Mr Tabulo said.
“It is testament to the calibre of people I have worked alongside over the years and the quality of projects to which I have had the opportunity to contribute, that I am able to accept this Fellowship.”
Mr Tabulo, who was appointed CEO of Cairns Regional Council in January 2013, started his planning career as a planning consultant in Far North Queensland.
His local government career took in Mareeba, Cairns City, Mulgrave, Toowoomba and Caboolture councils, prior to his return to the then Cairns City Council in 2000.
It was at that time that Mr Tabulo instigated the formation of the Tropical North Queensland Branch of the PIA and he held the role of President for the branch’s first five years.
He has remained an active member of the organisation, often initiating events and opportunities for members to further develop their expertise.
The PIA citation described Mr Tabulo’s leadership style as “positive, confident and consistent. Peter leads by example and he has been passionate in establishing and developing planning as a profession and planners as individuals.”
Driven by ‘outcomes that are reflective of the community’, Mr Tabulo has been involved in various local and regional strategic planning projects.
Among his major achievements has been the delivery of CairnsPlan 2005, The Cairns Style and planning for the Mt Peter area and the CBD Master Plan.
