Detailed topographic surveys showing ground levels, natural features, and contour lines across your Gold Coast property. Essential information for architects, engineers, and development applications.
Get a Free QuoteA contour survey (also called a topographic survey or feature survey) maps the shape and levels of your land. Our surveyors capture ground levels at regular intervals across your property, which are then used to generate contour lines - similar to the elevation lines you see on hiking maps.
Contour lines connect points of equal elevation. They show where your land is flat (lines far apart) and where it slopes steeply (lines close together). This information is critical for designing buildings, planning drainage, and calculating cut and fill earthworks.
A typical Gold Coast contour survey includes spot heights across the site, contour lines at 0.1m, 0.25m or 0.5m intervals (depending on site slope), existing features like trees and structures, and boundary references. The output is a scaled plan suitable for architectural design and council submissions.
Contour surveys provide essential information for many Gold Coast property projects.
Architects need accurate site levels to design your new home. A contour survey shows slope direction, steepness, and any level changes across the site. This determines foundation design, floor levels, and whether you need retaining walls. Without a survey, architects are guessing - and guesses lead to costly surprises during construction.
Gold Coast City Council requires contour surveys for many development applications. The survey demonstrates how your proposed building relates to the existing landform and neighbouring properties. It's used to assess stormwater drainage, visual impact, and compliance with building height limits measured from natural ground level.
Planning a subdivision, commercial development, or major landscaping project? A contour survey reveals opportunities and constraints you can't see with the naked eye. Subtle slopes affect drainage, building positioning, and construction costs. Early survey work prevents expensive redesigns later.
Our Gold Coast contour surveys include comprehensive site information:
Survey plans are delivered in PDF format with CAD files (DWG/DXF) available for architects and engineers. All levels are referenced to Australian Height Datum (AHD) where required.
Contour survey costs depend primarily on property size and the level of detail required. Typical Gold Coast prices:
$1,200 - $1,800
Up to 800m², standard contour intervals, typical site features.
$2,000 - $3,500+
Larger blocks, steep terrain, detailed feature capture, or tight contour intervals.
Factors affecting price include property size, terrain difficulty (steep or heavily vegetated sites take longer), level of detail required, and whether boundary information is included. We provide fixed-price quotes after reviewing your requirements.
Get a quote for your Gold Coast contour survey
Request QuoteThe terms are often used interchangeably. A contour survey focuses on levels and contour lines. A detail survey typically includes more comprehensive feature information. In practice, most Gold Coast surveyors provide both levels and features in a single survey. Tell us what you need the survey for and we'll ensure you get the right information.
Yes, if your block has any slope or level changes. Your architect needs accurate site levels to design foundations, set floor heights, and plan drainage. Flat blocks may only need spot levels at key points rather than full contours - we can advise what's appropriate for your site.
Contour interval depends on your site slope and project requirements. Flat sites typically use 0.1m or 0.25m intervals. Steeper sites use 0.5m or 1.0m intervals. For most Gold Coast residential projects, 0.25m or 0.5m intervals are sufficient. Your architect or engineer can specify if they need something different.
Field work typically takes 2-4 hours for a standard residential block. You'll receive your survey plan within 5-7 business days of the site visit. Larger or more complex sites take proportionally longer.
Yes. We can show boundary references on your contour survey for additional cost. This is useful if you need to know where features sit relative to boundaries. For legal boundary marking, you'll need a separate boundary survey.