The heritage-listed Oatmill Precinct redevelopment ‘The Mills’ is making exciting progress, with the forecourt now lighting the night on Percy Street.

Colour-changing lighting has been installed and the public can officially access the forecourt, which is now basically complete along with the shade structure.

The forecourt is open to the public for access to the Oatmill Cinema, with disability access available through the car park door until a new wheelchair-friendly lift arrives.

The building works have been undertaken by Kennett Builders and the upgrades were designed by Adelaide-based architecture, interior design and landscape architecture practice Das Studio.

Das Studio architect Jenna Holder said they were happy with the progress and said Kennett Builders had been thorough and undertaken a great job.

“We’re really excited to be able to go and see it, we have been on this project for a few years now,” Ms Holder said.

“Our previous works have been a little bit more quiet, in-the-background things, like upgrading roofs and downpipes and gutters and general repairs.

“So it’s exciting to be working on a part of the project that’s so visible and so public that we can share with everyone else.”

Ms Holder said the Oatmeal Factory ground floor upgrades were complete, which brought it up to contemporary standards for fire safety and access while treating the heritage limestone walls carefully to preserve it into the future.

New toilets on the ground floor and upgraded plumbing for the precinct have also been provided.

Ms Holder said the forecourt and Oatmeal Factory were both ready for an exciting new hospitality offering in the near future.

She said they were determined to make the outdoor area a space which was suited to Mount Gambier weather conditions.

“Earlier designs were only partly covered but we pretty quickly realised that Mount Gambier has some extreme weather,” Ms Holder said.

“We wanted to make sure that outdoor space would be usable for as much of the year as it can be.”

Mount Gambier local and Birdie Blue owner Felicia Jones said she was looking forward to using the new space.

“It will be perfect for the town having more dining, outdoor, social spaces,” Ms Jones said.

Ms Jones said it was great to see Mount Gambier expand with more places to go to and believed the best part about the development was the undercover outdoor area.

“Mount Gambier is such a cold town climate-wise, we need undercover areas which are outdoors as well,” she said.