The principal land use is residential including some canal estates in the north of the suburb providing boat access to Coomera River and Saltwater Creek. Helensvale is a diverse suburb mostly comprising of strata, residential & acreage homes. Helensvale was the first integrated suburb built on the hinterland fringe of the Gold Coast, and welcomed its first residents in the 1980s with a shopping centre, primary and secondary state schools, golf course, parks and a bowls club. Helensvale State School opened on 23 January 1984. Helensvale State High School opened on 29 January 1990. Westfield Helensvale opened on 13 October 2005. Helensvale Library opened in 2013.