Remote Leak Detection at Pine Trees Resort, Lord Howe Island

September 9, 2025

Client Location: Pine Trees Resort, Lord Howe Island

Service: Remote Leak Detection

Date: 07/09/2025

Background

Lord Howe Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lies over 600 km off the coast of New South Wales in the Tasman Sea. With only around 400 permanent residents, strict environmental controls, and capped visitor numbers, it is one of the most exclusive and protected destinations in Australia. Access is limited: just a few flights each week service the island, while heavy freight is delivered only by infrequent shipping barges. This makes both logistics and essential infrastructure works uniquely challenging.

Pine Trees Resort, established in 1895, is one of the oldest family-run lodges in Australia. Overlooking the island’s famous lagoon, it regularly operates at full capacity during the season and is consistently rated among the top resorts in the country.

The Challenge

In the lead-up to their seasonal reopening, Pine Trees Resort faced a serious crisis: a hidden underground water leak was spilling 15,000 litres per day. With a full house of guests arriving in just two weeks, the resort risked not being able to meet water demand.

Local attempts to identify the source of the leak were unsuccessful, with more than 200 m² of possible ground to investigate. Without immediate resolution, Pine Trees would have struggled to operate sustainably through the season.

This was a high-pressure situation, amplified by the island’s remoteness and the scarcity of resources.

Our Remote solution

Enjoy Plumbing was engaged to provide a premium solution. We mobilised our specialist acoustic leak sounding and locating equipment, along with a senior technician with over 15 years’ experience in leak detection.

Through systematic investigation, we:

Narrowed the search area from 200 m² to 100 m², and then down to just 20 m²
Pinpointed the leak on a corroded section of 40mm copper water line
Installed a professional clamp to immediately stop the leak

This stabilised the resort’s water system, preventing ongoing wastage and allowing operations to continue as planned.

Client Experience: Q&A with Pine Trees Resort

Q: What was the impact of the water leak on the resort before Enjoy Plumbing arrived?
A: We were very concerned about the leak in our main bore water line. We estimated that we were losing around 15,000 litres per day. Despite losing such a huge amount of water, we couldn’t find the leak. We were worried that once Pine Trees opened to guests we would not be able to soften enough water to supply our business needs.

Q: How was your experience working with Rob from Enjoy Plumbing during this job?
A: I’m not normally an email shouter, but ROB IS REALLY GREAT. I called Enjoy Plumbing and spoke to the team and Rob called me back straight away. He gave me some advice over the phone, told me what his daily rate would be and was willing to travel to Lord Howe Island within a few days. Once he arrived, he found the leak, to our huge relief, and clamped the pipe to stop the leak. After doing the job we asked him to do, Rob immediately offered to help our maintenance team with some of their outstanding work, including installing a lint filter for our laundry. Working with Rob was an absolute pleasure.

Q: What difference did fixing the leak make for your operations leading into the peak season?
A: We had been wasting a lot of time looking for the leak without success – and we were worried that if we didn’t find it, we wouldn’t be able to soften enough water to meet our needs once we opened for guests. Guests expect a hot shower, no ifs or buts. There’s nothing worse than having to turn off the water when you have guests. Finding the leak has allowed our maintenance team to go back to their seemingly-endless list of jobs that we need to get through before opening for the season. It was a huge relief.

Q: How do you feel about the ongoing support with Enjoy Plumbing working with your maintenance team to assist with advice for future leaks or plumbing issues?
A: We’d love to keep working with Rob and his team at Enjoy Plumbing in the future. As a small team in a remote place, it’s very reassuring to have expert plumbing support in Port Macquarie. Thanks again!

The Outcome

Water Security Restored: The loss of 15,000 litres per day was eliminated.
Guest Operations Protected: The resort could continue preparing for its peak season without interruption.
Future-Proofing: Enjoy Plumbing provided recommendations to replace aging copper infrastructure with a new, durable system.
Remote Capability Demonstrated: Despite the inaccessibility of Lord Howe Island, we were able to deliver premium plumbing services quickly and effectively.

It was also a pleasure to work alongside the wonderful staff and management team at Pine Trees Resort, whose professionalism and support made the project smooth and successful.

Ongoing Partnership

Beyond solving the immediate problem, Enjoy Plumbing will continue working with Pine Trees Resort on:

Designing a simplified, easy-to-use leak detection system that allows maintenance staff to monitor water usage and identify leaks early.
Providing hands-on training for the resort’s maintenance team in leak detection techniques, so they are empowered to manage minor issues quickly.
Re-designing the water network into a more accessible and resilient system to suit the island’s unique conditions.

This partnership ensures that Pine Trees Resort is not only protected today but is also equipped with the tools, systems, and training to prevent similar crises in the future.

Key Takeaways

Expertise in Remote Work: Plumbing challenges in inaccessible environments require careful planning, specialist equipment, and proven experience.
Sustainability Secured: By finding and repairing the leak, Enjoy Plumbing safeguarded Pine Trees Resort’s ability to operate at full capacity with sustainable water use.
Future Resilience: With a new easy-to-use leak detection system and trained maintenance staff, Pine Trees Resort will be able to detect and address leaks quickly.
Long-Term Partnership: Enjoy Plumbing continues to support the resort with system design, training, and ongoing professional expertise.

Need an obligation-free quote?

At Enjoy Plumbing, we understand that plumbing issues can end up being quite costly and we never want you to be locked in without knowing the full cost of the service first. Call our team today for a no-obligation quote on your Port Macquarie plumbing services.