Cape York Timber Established in 2013, Cape York Timber (CYT) is an Indigenous business that produces high-quality sustainable Australian hardwood and provides Indigenous employment and training. CYT’s key goals are to build: • a sustainable and profitable Indigenous-owned and controlled business • a workforce that comprises at least 75% Indigenous people • a new Indigenous-led and controlled industry on Cape York that enables Traditional Owners to productively utilise the natural forestry assets on their land. CYT sustainably and selectively harvests hardwood from Indigenous-owned land across Cape York and operates a commercial timber mill in Cooktown. CYT is the only commercial-scale hardwood sawmill in Far North Queensland and is the only Indigenous-owned timber business in the whole of Queensland. We operate under a sustainable harvesting methodology, guided by best practice. CYT sells finished, high-quality timber products into the Queensland building market, primarily architectural timber for residential construction.
HOW DOES CYT BUILD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAPE YORK? SOURCING HIGH-QUALITY TIMBER CYT works with Traditional Owners (TOs) to reach harvesting agreements that are mutually beneficial. In this regard, CYT creates economic development opportunities for Cape York’s Aboriginal people. Since it began its operations, CYT has paid substantial timber royalties to Aboriginal Land Trusts for access to high-quality, sustainable timber, thereby generating a new income stream for land trusts, some of which have very few other income streams. Where possible, CYT also encourages and promotes timber-harvesting opportunities for TOs. Cape York is home to a vast quantity of durable, aesthetic and marketable timber species. The uniqueness of these timber species is an opportunity to develop a Cape York-specific timber brand. However to do this, CYT needs to first develop awareness and make these species available to the timber market.
EMPLOYEE CAREER DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING Many of CYT’s staff members have had difficult backgrounds, including long periods of unemployment and/or other life challenges. Although none of CYT’s staff had previous experience in the timber industry, many held key operational positions and gained work experience at some of the industry’s leading facilities.
In August 2019 CYT made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend operations at the Cooktown timber mill following the loss of our largest customer. Under an agreement from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, CYT secured a lease to harvest part of a State Government forest. Due to a recent ban on the export of Queensland timber to China we were unable to commence harvesting. Pending these restrictions, we are hopeful to recommence harvesting and milling in 2021.
POSITIVE OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS OF CYT
CYT continues to grow its competitiveness and market share as an Indigenous-led and owned enterprise. It hires more Indigenous workers and collaborates with more TOs.
Increased Indigenous employment
Increased economic engagement for Indigenous workers and TOs
Reduced welfare dependency; improved health and wellbeing
IMPROVING INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT CYT is one of very few Indigenous-owned production businesses in Cape York that provides employment opportunities for Indigenous workers. Since milling
operations commenced in 2014, CYT provided employment for 48 Indigenous
men and women, accounting for 73% of the total workforce over the years. Of the Indigenous staff employed at the end of July 2019, before the cessation of operations, the average duration of employment was almost 2
years.
INCREASING THE MARKET SHARE FOR INDIGENOUS ENTERPRISE At its core, CYT is about developing an Indigenous enterprise that can act as a beachhead for Cape York’s first Indigenous-controlled industry. CYT is attempting to build a unique Cape York timber brand that will achieve a premium in the hardwood decorative timber market.
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With Indigenous enterprise, income flows back to Indigenous people and communities.
