Gold Coast Town Planning

Your property has
more potential
than you think.

The Gold Coast market is the hottest in the country and Highline is here to support you to make the most of it — whether it's a secondary dwelling, a dual occupancy or any residential DA. Clear process, straight answers, done properly.

#1
Gold Coast — Australia's highest rental market right now
3-in-1
Planner + Engineer + Building Designer.
Real talk
We tell you what's achievable. Straight answers.
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For Homeowners

Your backyard could be earning you money.

The Gold Coast is Australia's tightest rental market right now. If you've got the land, a secondary dwelling isn't just a nice idea — it's a genuinely smart move. We'll help you figure out if it's on the cards.

Show me how
For Builders

Planning support that actually keeps up with you.

No passing the buck, no junior staff, no chasing updates. Just direct access to someone who knows what they're doing and moves at the speed your business needs.

Let's work together

A granny flat used to be just extra storage. Not anymore.

The Gold Coast rental market is the strongest in Australia right now — and it's not slowing down. A secondary dwelling on your existing block can generate real, consistent income. The kind that makes the mortgage feel different.

The approval process sounds intimidating. It doesn't have to be. We've done this enough times to know exactly how to make it smooth — and we'll tell you honestly upfront if something isn't going to work.

Let's see what's possible
Older style Queensland home
Your property, maximised
Gold Coast suburb aerial
Southern Gold Coast
Queensland home detail
Built for the climate
Gold Coast aerial
Gold Coast residential
House under construction
The planning bit — handled
01

We tell you what's actually possible

No vague assessments, no stringing you along. We look at your block, your zoning, and give you an honest read on what can be built and what the approval process looks like. Easy first step.

02

We handle council so you don't have to

We know how applications are assessed because we've worked on that side of the table. Your DA is built to move — not sit in a pile waiting for someone to get back to it.

03

You end up with something that earns

A secondary dwelling done right adds rental income straight away and builds long-term property value. We make sure the approval is solid so there are no headaches down the track.

Wondering if your block stacks up?

Answer a few quick questions and we'll give you a straight read on whether your property is a candidate for a secondary dwelling — and roughly what it could earn on the Gold Coast market right now.

Take the Free Assessment →
Ben Fennell, Highline
Ben Fennell on the Gold Coast
Clarity. Momentum.
Elevation.

Planner. Engineer. Building Designer. Yeah, all three.

Ben Fennell isn't your typical town planner — and that's kind of the whole point. Most planners know planning. Ben also understands how buildings go together structurally, how they're designed, and how council actually assesses what lands on their desk.

That's a rare combination. It means he can spot issues early that others would miss, and get applications through without the back-and-forth that costs everyone time and money.

Highline works with homeowners and small-scale builders — not towers, not big commercial. Just the work Ben knows best, done properly.

Work with Ben
Qualified Town Planner
Qualified Engineer
Qualified Building Designer
Council experience
Secondary dwelling & dual occupancy specialist
Gold Coast local — knows this market inside out
House framing under construction
You build it. We clear the path.

A planning partner who actually picks up the phone.

Direct access to someone who knows what they're doing and moves at the speed your business needs.

You deal directly with Ben — no hand-offs, no "I'll check with the team". He understands what you're building, what council needs to see, and how to get it moving.

Partner with Highline

DA management, start to finish

We lodge, we liaise, we follow up. You stay on site doing what you do best.

Pre-lodgement advice that saves you grief

Know what council will and won't approve before you've committed to anything. Avoid the costly surprises.

Engineering & design crossover

Ben sees things planners normally miss because of his engineering and design experience. That's a real advantage on complex jobs.

An ongoing partnership, not a one-off

Bring Highline into your business as your go-to planning support. Consistent, reliable, and always available.

What we do.
And what we don't.

Highline is deliberately focused. We don't take on towers or large commercial projects — that's not where our energy goes. We work with homeowners and small builders, and we're very good at it.

Our sweet spot

Secondary Dwellings & Granny Flats

This is where we spend most of our time. Full planning and DA services — we know this process inside out and we keep it moving.

Our sweet spot

Dual Occupancy

Maximise what your block can do. We assess the site, figure out what's achievable, and manage the approval from first conversation to green light.

General DA

Development Applications

Extensions, renovations, new builds. If it needs council approval, we can take care of it — clearly and without the runaround.

Advisory

Pre-Lodgement Advice

Before you spend a dollar or commit to anything, understand exactly what you're working with. Honest advice from someone who's been on both sides of the process.

Advisory

Planning Due Diligence

Eyeing off a property? We'll tell you what you can actually do with it before you sign anything. No nasty surprises after settlement.

For Builders

Builder Partnerships

Bring Highline into your workflow as your planning arm. Reliable, direct, and always across your projects.

Drop us an email. That's all.

No forms to overthink, no commitment required. Just send Ben an email with whatever's on your mind — a half-formed idea, a property you're looking at, a project that needs planning support. He'll get back to you and you can take it from there.

Every enquiry gets a response within one business day.

LocationGold Coast, QLD
Emailhello@highlineplanning.com.au
ServingGold Coast & surrounds

Get in touch

hello@highlineplanning.com.au

Send Ben an email with whatever you're thinking. No detail is too rough — he's heard it all and he'll point you in the right direction.

Send an email →

Response within one business day. Gold Coast & surrounds.