Page 25 - Tropic Magazine Issue 30

TROPIC • BUSINESS

Made in FNQ Seven years ago, environmental scientist “Our philosophy is that it’s better to
Bess Murphy and businessman Will salvage timber than to cut down a new
Russell-Smith acted on their passion tree from our planation,” she said.
LOCAL MANUFACTURING
for sustainable forestry and began “For example if a diseased tree hanging
Topaz Sustainable Timbers growing, harvesting and milling over a house needs to be removed it would
grows and mills stunning slabs rainforest hardwoods. Today, Topaz often end up chipped and in landfill.
at their plantation on a former Sustainable Timbers sells beautiful Instead, we salvage the logs from the tree
loppers and give new life to the resource.”
raw slabs to cabinet and fine furniture
Tablelands dairy farm. makers, builders, wholesalers and for The couple also advocates for other
DIY projects. They also make crafted local farmers to consider growing
items such as breadboards, spoons and rainforest trees. “Unfortunately much of
necklaces. the rainforest timber sold in Australia is
from old growth deforestation in South
East Asia,” Ms Murphy said.
Our philosophy is that “We started out striving to provide more
it’s better to salvage local and sustainable rainforest timber
to the market. We also see opportunity
timber than to cut down in demonstrating how forestry can add

a new tree from our value and productivity to farms and
we hope to inspire more landholders
plantation on the Tablelands to add vegetation to
their properties.” The Topaz Sustainable
Timbers’ plantation also doubles as a
habitat for native plants and animals,
Ms Murphy told Tropic their plantation’s now frequented by a curious cassowary
rainforest hardwoods are softer than or two.
dryland species, though the pair salvage
native and non-native hardwoods too. MORE:
topazsustainabletimbers.com.au

Cairns 07 4051 9699 | Townsville 07 4724 5822 | cbcstaff.com.au
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Connecting business
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with the right people.

25 • tropicnow.com.au