Curiosity: Building breakthroughs in LEGO® bricks now open
Pack your curiosity, leave the textbooks behind, and experience an unforgettable adventure where breakthroughs are built one LEGO® brick at a time! Created by LEGO® Certified Professional Ryan ‘Brickman’ McNaught and his team, CURIOSITY explores scientific knowledge, engineering feats, mathematical puzzles and more, brought to life in spectacular detail with the wonders of LEGO® bricks.
A budding friendship: Harvey Norman becomes major sponsor of rose fest
Madison Eastmond. A Renmark business has become a major sponsor of the reinstated 2026 Riverland Rose and Garden Festival after pledging of upwards of $5000 in support for the event. Locally owned business, Harvey Norman Renmark, has become one of the first major sponsors of the upcoming Riverland Rose and Garden Festival.
Alice project for US defence firm
An American defence contractor, Lockheed Martin Australia, is seeking planning approval for a "global navigation satellite system reference station" in Ilparpa Road, near the popular claypans. The facility is part of a satellite based system pinpointing locations to the accuracy of as little as 10 centimetres, and while it is described as a civilian asset it clearly can have military applications.
AI. Friend or foe? An insider’s perspective
The rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across society in the past few years has both its benefits, and downfalls, which could change the way our communities are today. The Clarence Valley Independent spoke to a Northern River’s based tech expert, who is a husband, father, and computer programmer, about the explosion in society of AI.
Vytelle launched commercial, cost-effective cattle methane monitoring at CattleCon
Vytelle last week announced the commercial release of Vytelle SENSE™ Methane, a methane phenotyping system that costs a fraction of available systems and enables concurrent measurement of intake and sustainability. The technology was featured at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association CattleCon in Nashville on February 3, where producers saw live demonstrations.
Vanadium royalty relief a win for regional jobs, emerging industries: Michael, Sanderson
Vanadium miners will be afforded significant royalty relief with the Cook Government delivering a major election commitment which will support Western Australia's resources industry and help the State's economy remain the strongest in the nation. From today, a 2.5 per cent royalty rate will apply to vanadium products in a move to incentivise production of the critical mineral in WA and encourage its emerging vanadium battery industry.
Potential for satellites and AI to help tackle critical invasive species problem: Charles Darwin University
Satellite imagery and artificial intelligence can detect with high accuracy two invasive weed species in Australia, posing a new opportunity for defense against these pervasive plants. Research conducted by Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Charles Sturt University (CSU) explored the potential for SkySat satellite imagery and AI algorithms to detect and map African lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) and bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata).
The Roaring 1920s to the Turbulent 2020s
This week, the comparison shifts to machinery and markets — how, in both decades a century apart, a revolution in farm equipment collided head-on with falling commodity prices and soaring machinery costs. The rhyme is almost eerie: technological leaps meeting financial cliffs.
Algae monitoring buoys ahoy!: Scriven
Six hi-tech monitoring buoys which will automatically detect future harmful algal blooms before they reach our shores are being deployed across South Australian waters. The state-of-the-art oceanographic moorings are equipped with specific sensors for early detection of key harmful algal bloom (HAB) species such as Karenia.
Droughts lasting longer across Australia, study shows: UNSW Sydney
A study tracking not only the forces that drive drought but the damage it leaves behind has revealed that droughts have lasted longer in Australia in recent decades, especially in areas with the most people and farms. UNSW researchers analysed drought trends across Australia between 1911 and 2020 based on rainfall shortages and falling river and dam levels.
NBN fixed wireless is coming to Wilcannia – where speed is the new data
Chris Elliot. Wilcannia residents in the space of less than 300 years have moved from the traditional wooden message stick that, while designed to carry a lot of data, had low transfer speed, as it depended on how fast the carrier walked. In 1866 it took 70 days for a letter to come from London to Wilcannia. Now, at current average speed of 80Mbps you can send a 2-million-word document per second from Wilcannia to London.
Energy Estate Digital announces Tasmanian data centre hubs and digital infrastructure plans: Energy Estate
Energy Estate Digital is developing state of the art subsea data cable networks between Australia and New Zealand and key global hubs including California, Japan and India. These new networks are designed to support the growth of the AI economy and connect global hubs with new regions with access to the abundant land, energy and water resources.
Tech giants driving rise in digital platform complaints: TIO
A new report by Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) reveals more than 1,500 people have come to the organisation since 2023 with complaints about social media and other digital platforms. The report, Digital platforms complaints insights, shows 71 per cent per cent of disputes are with the major tech companies Google, Microsoft, Apple, Hubbl, and Meta.
FRRR awards vital funding for 78 locally-led initiatives across Australia
Remote, rural and regional communities across Australia will share $981,100 in grants through FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program, empowering them to create vibrant and sustainable places to live, work and thrive. This funding will support 78 locally-led projects that foster resilience, social connection and greater capacity in regional communities.
Moo-ving the boundaries: New research evaluates virtual fences for use on NT cattle stations
Cattle producers in Northern Australia face unique challenges when adapting tools like virtual fences on their properties, but new research from Charles Darwin University (CDU) is set to break down the barriers to this technology. Virtual fences remotely map and control livestock such as cows by fitting the animal with a GPS collar that delivers audio cues and electric pulses to the animal if they approach a pre-set boundary.
Unseen roadworthies – the latest scam plaguing social media
"Is your Rego finish? (sic) Need to transfer registration from one state to another? Need an Unseen Pink Slip, Blue Slip Or Roadworthy Certificate? We've Got You Covered! Is your vehicle due for its annual safety check or registration? Don't stress—we make the process quick and hassle-free!" That is how one scammer sets the scene to prey on unsuspecting vehicle owners, in just another fraudulent business that effortlessly slips through Facebook's community guidelines.
Single atoms of silver and earth-abundant carbon turn pollutants into fertiliser: Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation
A single atom of silver working in synergy with carbon and nitrogen atoms can efficiently convert polluting nitrogenous waste in water from industries such as agriculture and mining into ready-to-use liquid fertiliser.
Bureau of Meteorology’s new website needs review: Littleproud
Leader of The Nationals and Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud is calling for a review of the Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) new website, following a flood of complaints from locals. Mr Littleproud said it was clear Maranoa locals were not given the information they needed after the recent rain event...
Artificial insemination program introduces new genetics to herd: NT DAF
The Northern Territory Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (NT DAF) Livestock Industries team together with farm staff at the Old Man Plains (OMP) Research Station, are running an Artificial Insemination (AI) program to introduce new genetics to the OMP research cattle herd.
On-demand machinery – The circular economy and Australian farming: Oxenham
James Oxenham, CEO, HRIA ...Australia's agricultural equipment market reached $7.8 billion in 2024, with rental and leasing models experiencing significant growth as farms increasingly choose to hire machinery during peak seasons rather than commit to outright purchases. This shift represents a fundamental rethinking of how Australian farmers approach their operations, and it's reshaping the industry from the ground up.
Where might animal cloning lead us?
Animal cloning never became a popular or profitable business. However, this industry has made human cloning a reality. For better or worse, all that remains is to legalise it. The first animals that were cloned in Australia were a sheep named Matilda ...
Next generation weed management takes centre stage at Gatton AgTech Showcase: Hort Innovation
Australia’s horticulture industry is set to benefit from a major innovation in weed management, announced ... at the Gatton AgTech Showcase. The Next generation weed management project - a three-part project being delivered by Applied Horticultural Research, Nufarm, and La Trobe University, and funded by Hort Innovation - aims to transform how growers tackle weed challenges...

