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As a structural engineer I almost can’t believe this news. Timber construction is great. Timber is a renewable resource and it has a high elastic modulus-to-density ratio. Steel needs to be transported and smelted down again in order to be re-used, assuming it doesn’t rust away over the years. Properly treated timber can last for hundreds of years.

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What kind of treated timber lasts hundreds of years? When I think of treated timber I’m thinking of Bunnings treated pine... what is the industry standard timber for longevity?

Parent poster meant "properly cared for timber", not chemically-treated timber. Timber doesn't have an expiration date. As long as you keep it dry, it will last indefinitely. In fact, it becomes stronger over time. There are many 100+ years timber buildings in US.

For timber used outdoors, e.g. for making decks pressure-treated timber is used. It's a timber treated with pesticide (chromated copper arsenate). In the past creosote was used to treat things like wooden railroad ties and power poles, but it's no longer used because it's toxic.

If timber is properly seasoned with appropriate treatments depending on region it can actually last hundreds of years. We have redgum timber at home which was used some time in the late 1800s.

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