Living Water Irrigation is a company with a big future, and to help keep pace with its steady growth, a Ditch Witch SK900 was recently added to its list of assets.
Aaron Ribeiro is an outgoing and happy sort of bloke. After 20 years in landscaping and irrigation, his company, Living Water Irrigation, is doing well.
“I started in Sydney doing a lot of commercial irrigation,” he told Landscape Contractor magazine. “I did footy ovals, sports fields, and those kinds of projects, along with residential landscaping.
“I moved down to the Southern Highlands and started Living Water Irrigation eight years ago.”
The company’s upward trajectory since it kicked off has meant upgrading equipment here and there, but that’s not a new situation for Aaron.
“I’ve had a few Ditch Witches and excavators,” he said, “and all the specialist equipment for our line of work.”
The list of brands and machines Aaron’s run or owned in the past is quite a long one. At the moment he’s running an excavator and a Ditch Witch SK900.
A step up
Aaron’s head over heels for his machinery, but on this occasion it was the SK900 that had our interest.
We asked why he decided on the Ditch Witch, and why that model.
“The truth be told,” he chuckled, “I was led into the SK900 by CEA.
“I’d previously owned an SK600. It fit through PA gates and seemed made for residential landscape work, but with the business growing it was too small for us. It didn’t have the power or the grunt we needed as the jobs got bigger.
“I was happy with the SK range in general and with the Ditch Witch brand. The quality of the machinery is good. Ditch Witch has everything from the SK600 up to the SK3000, but I didn’t need to think so much about tight access once we moved here.
“I wanted the SK1050, but a conversation with the CEA rep in Mittagong made me consider the SK900. Basically, the SK1050 has the same footprint as the SK900. But where the SK1050 has a straight diesel, the SK900 has a smaller turbo diesel.
“For me, it’s been the best decision I’ve made. The SK900 is quieter because it’s a turbo, but it still has the power output we need for the jobs we do.”
One regret
Aaron is definitely a fan of Ditch Witch equipment and seems especially rapt with his latest purchase.
But his experience with Ditch Witch isn’t without a negative.
“I’m a Ditch Witch guy,” he said. “I love Ditch Witch machinery and I love the brand. They’re really well-made machines.”
But then a tiny trace of sadness appeared in his normally happy expression.
“One of my biggest regrets was getting rid of the CX16 walk-behind trencher,” he said. “I should’ve kept it. It was an absolutely phenomenal little machine, but it was one of the machines that had to be upgraded as the business grew.”
The thought of Living Water Irrigation’s success restored his normal, cheerful outlook, as he offered, “We’re still growing. Absolutely. Living Water Irrigation will soon have its own irrigation and pump retail shop.”
Momentary sadness forgotten, Aaron summed up with, “I really love the ergonomics of the Ditch Witch and I love the versatility of the SK range. We’re on and off the machine all the time, and the stand-behind really suits me.
“But if I need to go bigger in the future I’d probably look at a sit-in skid steer.”
We’re guessing there may well be another discussion with Ditch Witch CEA in the not-too-distant future.
To see the Ditch Witch range, go to ditchwitchcea.com.au.
