How Gareth found his perfect mower: A rural property owner's take on the Liberty Z

13 May 2025

Managing a larger property means having the right equipment. Gareth Milton, based out in Darfield, understands this. Having moved to his property about eighteen months ago, he quickly realised his existing rotary mower wasn't up to the task for his new land. "I was probably taking an hour and a half to two hours to mow half an acre," Gareth recalls. "Now it's just too much time, so I kind of thought, like, I need to look at something that's a bit more, you know, a ride on or a zero turn, something like that."

Gareth started exploring options for a more efficient machine. He came across Scag mowers and was impressed by what he saw. "It looked really, really well built," he noted. Wanting to get a real feel for the equipment, he contacted OMC Power Equipment. Gerry from OMC arranged for a demonstration right there on Gareth's property, bringing a couple of models, including the Scag Liberty Z. "Gerry arranged to bring a couple of mowers around actually," Gareth said, "and [I] actually got the opportunity to use it on our section here to see what it was really like."

Testing the Scag Liberty Z on his own grass proved insightful. Gareth found the mower easy to operate. "I found that the Scag was really easy to drive and turn and get around corners," he explained, a key benefit of the Liberty Z's zero-turn capability. The mower's capability for mulching was another key benefit for his property, saving him time. "Mulching was a lot easier for us to sort of deal with and save me time," he stated. The cutting performance also met his expectations with the Liberty Z. "The cutting capability was really good on it as well."

When deciding, Gareth considered cheaper alternatives but prioritised long-term value and the known durability of Scag. "I knew there'd be other cheaper models out there, but I wanted something that was going to last." He'd seen friends deal with less durable machines. "I've got friends that have bought sort of cheaper mowers, and they've been having to get them serviced more often and more parts," he noted. His view on the Scag Liberty Z was clear: "whereas this is gonna last the life of the property that we live here."

Gareth was also pleased with the service from OMC Power Equipment. "I was really happy with OMC," he commented, highlighting their expertise. "They're very knowledgeable around mowers." He appreciated the range of options available to suit different requirements and budgets. "They've got a very good selection of options as well for different budgets and different properties."

The result of finding the right mower in the Scag Liberty Z has changed Gareth's perspective on property maintenance. What was once a chore is now something he enjoys. "Mowing for me now is actually a pleasure," Gareth shared. "It wasn't so much before, but I actually look forward to sitting on the mower for half an hour and just looking at the mountains." His conclusion is simple: "Yeah. I've been really, really happy with what they've offered, and I love mowing."

I knew there'd be other cheaper models out there, but I wanted something that was going to last. I've got friends that have bought sort of cheaper mowers, and they've been having to get them serviced more often and more parts, whereas, this is gonna last the life of the property that we live here.

I was really happy with OMC. They, they're very knowledgeable around, mowers. They've got a very good selection of of, options as well for different budgets and different properties. Yeah. I've been really, really happy with what they've offered, and I love mowing.