Neighbour payment application
Now open for Calvale to Calliope River Transmission Line Reinforcement Project
Powerlink’s Neighbour Payment recognises the role our neighbours play in supporting the delivery and ongoing maintenance of our infrastructure and reflects Powerlink’s commitment to supporting the communities in which we operate.
This one-off fixed payment of $5,000 is available to registered owners of properties that fall within 1km of a new overhead transmission line being built in rural areas for Powerlink projects where the payment is being offered.
Payments are made by application, with applications opening around the time that construction of the new transmission line begins.
Eligibility
Registered property owners who meet all the following criteria may be eligible for the one-off payment:
- own a property within 1 kilometre of a new overhead transmission line
- are located in a rural area
- neighbour a transmission line being built for a Powerlink project where the Neighbour Payment is being offered
The Neighbour Payment is not offered to in the following instances:
- to a leaseholder or tenant of a property
- to hosting landholders, including registered owners of lots in a body corporate, where the body corporate is hosting the transmission line or easement
- to a registered property owner who became the registered property owner after a Neighbour Payment has already been made for that property
- Government-owned organisations or agencies.
You can only apply for the Neighbour Payment if you are the registered owner of the property, or if you are authorised to apply on their behalf.
Before you start your application
The application takes about 10 minutes. You won’t be able to save it, so it’s best to have everything ready before you begin.
Please have these details ready:
- The name and contact details for each registered owner of the property, including individuals, trusts, corporate trusts and companies. We may need to contact each owner separately, and missing details could delay your application or payment.
- Your property’s lot and plan number, usually found on your rates notice.
| CURRENT ELIGIBLE POWERLINK PROJECTS | STATUS | CLOSING |
|---|---|---|
Calvale to Calliope River Visit our Community Hub to learn more about the project. | APPLY NOW | 5pm 31 March 2027 |
What happens next
Applying online is the first step, but it does not guarantee payment. We will assess your application to confirm it meets the eligibility requirements.
After you apply
Once we receive your completed application, we aim to let you know the initial eligibility outcome within 20 business days.
If we need more information, we will contact you. This will include confirming you are authorised to act for the registered property owner. If you are not the registered owner, or not the only registered owner, you will be requested to provide a completed Authority to Act and Pay Form and depending on the circumstances, may be asked to provide other documents, such as a Trust Deed where the registered owner is a Trust.
An example of the Authority to Act and Pay Form is available on our website for your information. However, please don’t complete this document until we issue it to you as we will tailor it to your specific situation and send it to you for completion.
If eligible
If your application is eligible:
- All registered owners must complete identity verification before payment can be made. For company or trust-owned properties, authorised representatives must complete this step.
- We will also ask for bank details. In most cases, payment will be made to one account authorised by all registered owners. Do not send personal or bank details until we specifically ask for them during the assessment process.
Frequently asked questions
Expand the topic sections below to find answers to some frequently asked questions about the Neighbour Payment. If you have a question that hasn't been answered below, please reach out to the Neighbour Payment team.
Who is eligible for the payment?
The payment is available to a registered owner of an eligible property that is located within 1km of a new overhead transmission line being built in a rural area for a Powerlink project where the Neighbour Payment is being offered. This distance is measured from the new transmission line.
Under what conditions is the neighbour payment not offered?
The Neighbour Payment is not offered to in the following instances:
- to a leaseholder or tenant of a property
- to hosting landholders, including registered owners of lots in a body corporate, where the body corporate is hosting the transmission line or easement
- to a registered property owner who became the registered property owner after a Neighbour Payment has already been made for that property
- Government-owned organisations or agencies.
What projects does the Neighbour Payment apply to?
The Neighbour Payment applies to Powerlink projects involving new overhead transmission lines in rural areas.
What projects will the neighbour payment not apply to?
The Neighbour Payment will not be offered on projects that involve:
- New transmission line projects in urban areas
- New substations and/or existing substation site works (including synchronous condenser installations
- Underground transmission lines
- Maintenance, refurbishment or rebuild projects in existing easements; or
- Transmission connection projects where Powerlink is not responsible for acquiring land, the approvals required or constructing the transmission line.
How does Powerlink determine if a transmission line is in an urban or rural area?
Powerlink determines if a new transmission line is classified rural or urban during the planning for a project. The decision is primarily based on the main characteristics of the area, including local zoning information.
How can people access the payment?
Powerlink will send a letter to eligible property owners, providing instructions to visit our website and submit an application for the Neighbour Payment within the six-month payment opportunity window. The application process requires you to provide details about the property, the registered owners, and proof that you are authorised to act on behalf of other owners if needed. You or your representative will also need to complete identity verification through a third-party service.
What if I believe I’m eligible for the Neighbour Payment but didn’t receive a letter?
If you have not received a letter and believe you are eligible for the Neighbour Payment please feel free to submit an application via the website.
What if there are multiple registered owners?
Where an eligible property has multiple registered owners, payments will be made according to the type of ownership registered on the title.
For joint tenants, the payment will be made to any one of the registered owners, who is responsible for sharing it with the other joint tenants.
For tenants in common, the payment is split proportionately based on each owner’s share and paid separately after individual applications are received.
Where relevant, one registered owner may be authorised in writing by the others to apply on behalf of all owners. Before any payment is made however, all owners who provide that authority must complete identity verification.
What is the value of the payment?
The Neighbour Payment is a fixed amount of $5,000 for eligible properties located within 1km of a new overhead transmission line project in a rural area.
What is the maximum payment I can receive if I have multiple eligible properties?
Registered property owners with multiple eligible properties can receive payments for up to total of five eligible properties for a project where the Neighbour Payment is being offered. No matter how many properties you own, the maximum total payment is $25,000 if those properties meet the eligibility criteria.
When is the payment paid?
During the construction phase of a project, applicants will be provided a six-month window in which to apply for the Neighbour Payment. Once the application process is completed and the property is deemed eligible, payment can be made by direct deposit.
How long will the Neighbour Payment application for a project be open?
The Neighbour Payment will be open for six months from the commencement of construction of projects where the Neighbour Payment is being offered. Neighbours are encouraged to submit their expression of interest within this timeframe.
What happens if I miss the payment window?
Unfortunately, the Neighbour Payment is only open during a six-month eligibility window. Applications made outside of this window are not eligible.
What if a neighbour doesn’t agree with the payment being offered?
Unlike compensation, there is no statutory obligation for Powerlink to make a payment to properties neighbouring new overhead transmission lines. We offer this non-negotiable, one-off lump sum payment to recognise the important role of our neighbours in supporting the delivery and ongoing maintenance of our infrastructure. Neighbours are under no obligation to apply for or accept these payments.
What about the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?
Eligible property owners are responsible for obtaining their own independent tax advice with respect to the Neighbour Payment.
What if I change my mind after I have submitted an application?
You can withdraw your application at any time prior to payment. Please email [email protected] with your application number and property details and we can stop the assessment process.
How do I submit an application if I can’t complete the online form?
If you are having problems completing the online form, please contact the Neighbour Payment team for assistance via email [email protected] or 07 3898 4090.
Do I need to sign a formal agreement?
You do not need to sign a formal agreement or acknowledge the project to receive the Neighbour Payment. You will simply need to submit an application, provide the information needed to assess your eligibility, and complete identity verification before payment can be made.
Is professional advice required in relation to the neighbour payment?
You are not required to sign a formal agreement to receive the Neighbour Payment, however, if you have any questions or are concerned about tax implications of receiving the payment Powerlink encourages you to seek professional advice.
The identity check is free and usually takes about 5 minutes. There's no cost to you.
Why identity verification is required
Powerlink Queensland must verify the identity of relevant individuals connected with your application before processing a Neighbour Payment.
Identity verification helps confirm that they are who they say they are and reduces the risk of fraud or unauthorised payment.
Powerlink uses Equifax, a third-party identity verification provider, to complete this check on its behalf.
Who must complete identity verification?
The individuals required to complete identity verification depend on the registered ownership and authority arrangements for the property.
Powerlink will advise you if you are required to complete the check.
This may include:
- individual registered owners;
- a person authorised to act on behalf of a registered owner;
- a company director, company secretary or attorney for a company that is a registered owner who authorise a person to act on behalf of the company;
- a trustee for a trust that is a registered owner; or
- an executor or administrator acting under valid authority for a registered owner.
Payment processing cannot begin until every person identified by Powerlink in connection to an application has successfully completed identity verification.
What will happen
- Powerlink will email you to advise that identity verification is required. This email will always arrive before the Equifax SMS.
- Equifax will send an SMS to the mobile number Powerlink has for each individual who needs to be verified.
- The SMS will contain a secure verification link and include your Neighbour Payment application number.
- Open the link and review the privacy information and consent request.
- Follow the prompts to take a photo of an accepted identity document, check the extracted details and complete the face verification step.
- Submit the verification and wait for the completion confirmation.
You must complete identity verification within three business days of receiving the link. After this time, the link will expire.
If you cannot meet this timeframe, contact the Neighbour Payment Team immediately to discuss an extension.
Before you start
To complete the Equifax check, you will need:
- the mobile phone provided to receive the verification SMS;
- a current, physical identity document. Accepted documents include Drivers Licence, Passport or Proof of Age Card. Digital identity documents such as a driver’s licence stored in a phone app cannot be used. If you do not have an accepted physical identity document available, contact the Neighbour Payment Team before attempting the verification;
- access to the camera on your mobile device;
- a clear, well-lit location so the document and face verification images can be captured; and
- details on your identity document that match the information provided to Powerlink in relation to the Neighbour Payment application. If your name is different, for example, after marriage or because of a spelling mistake, contact the Neighbour Payment Team before attempting the verification.
Follow the on-screen instructions carefully.
What if I can’t complete the check online?
Contact the Neighbour Payment Team before you start if:
- you do not have a smartphone or another suitable mobile device;
- you cannot access the camera on your device;
- you do not have an accepted physical identity document;
- the details on your identity document do not match the details provided to Powerlink;
- you require accessibility or language assistance; or
- you do not wish to complete the online identity check.
The Neighbour Payment Team will discuss the available options with you.
What happens after you submit?
Equifax will assess the verification and notify Powerlink of the outcome, after submission. Powerlink will then review and process the outcome, which will ordinarily occur within five business days, depending on the volume of applications.
If you do not pass the identity verification, Powerlink will advise you and discuss what happens next. In some circumstances, you may be asked to repeat the Equifax verification.
If more than one person must be verified, the application cannot proceed until all required verifications have passed.
Once all required identity verifications have passed, the payment process can progress, and Powerlink will contact the authorised representative to collect and verify the required bank account details for payment to be made. Do not send bank details until Powerlink specifically asks for them.
If the identity verification is not completed within three business days, Powerlink may send a reminder. If the required identity verification remains incomplete for a further three business days after reminder, the application may be closed and the authorised representative will be notified.
If the link has expired before you complete the verification process, contact the Neighbour Payment Team so the verification request can be reissued.
Protection of your personal information
Identity information is collected by Equifax and handled for the purpose of verifying identity and administering the Neighbour Payment. Powerlink records the verification outcome only and does not store or retain copies of identity documents. Access to verification details is restricted to approved personnel who require access to review an outcome.
For further information about how Powerlink handles personal information, including access and correction rights, refer to our Privacy Statement.
Do not email copies of identity documents to Powerlink.
Giving consent is your choice. If you do not want to complete the online check, contact the Neighbour Payment team to discuss your options.
Need assistance?
If you have questions, do not receive the Equifax SMS or experience difficulty completing the verification, contact the Neighbour Payment Team via:
- email [email protected]
- phone (07) 3898 4374 Monday to Friday, 7:30am-4pm.
When contacting Powerlink, quote your Neighbour Payment application number.
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