We used spotted gum for our decking and love it! We got it for $4.25 linear metre from Masters (any lengths that were inferior they were happy to replace). Our deck was built next to our near-white pavers so merbau was out of the question due to its leaching (plus we also were wanting an eco-friendly local hardwood if possible).

Hey there - these stories may help you! Who's On Deck? [5 Hardwoods Suited to the Australian Climate[(https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/whos-on-deck-5-hardwoods-suited-to-the-australian-climate-stsetivw-vs~45817061) is written by Josh from Harrison's Landscaping (so you know he knows what he's talking about!). Then there is also [How to Build the Best Deck to Suit Your Lifestyle[(https://www.houzz.com.au/magazine/how-to-build-the-best-deck-to-suit-your-lifestyle-stsetivw-vs~27270085). Hope this helps!

I have just gone through the same decision making process. I rejected the composites due to cost, scratching, smell, and how much heat they emit. I rejected merbau due to leaching of the tannins, unsustainable harvesting practices (despite what is preached), and the threat to orangutang habitats. I chose spotted gum for looks (more brown than red), reasonable cost, easy maintenance, and it is Australian grown and produced. There will be those who disagree with my decision, but at the end of the day I wanted a reasonably priced but attractive, durable, and low maintenance decking board. It takes longer to lay the hardwoods such as spotted gum as they have to be pre-drilled, but the total extra for a 5m x 5m deck was $1000 for labour / timber compared to merbau. A quick oil once a year is the only maintenance. Pinterest is a good resource for how they all look once down.

It depends on what look and feel you are going for and also if you feel like it's important to you that the deck material is environmentally friendly. What style do you have throughout the rest of your home? Both hardwood timber and composite are very durable, however, you may need to maintain the timber more than the composite (Blackbutt timber may crack on the surface if not maintained properly). Timber is aesthetically pleasing and looks very natural and the composite has a more modern and stylish look and feel (new techwood is the eco-friendly alternative to natural wood).