The provincially owned Balmoral Grist Mill is reopening Saturday after a yearlong renovation project, but bakers anxious to replenish their supply of specially ground oats will be disappointed.

For most of the last year Matheson Brook has been running through a large pipe. The rerouting was necessary for the construction of a brand new wood and concrete dam to replace the one the province refurbished in the late 1960s.

Darrell Burke, site manager, helped oversee the renovations that cost close to $1 million.

"If it hadn't been done, I mean nobody knows for sure, it might have been 10 years, might have been 20 years but eventually there could have been a catastrophic failure," he said.

However, the mill had to be lifted in order to place new stronger supports and all the century-old machinery inside needs to be recalibrated.

Mark Burris, the miller at Balmoral, says it will take months to repair.

"We have a great following of seniors that come here every year looking for Scottish oatmeal. Scottish oatmeal is actually kiln dried over a maple fire and this is the only one we have in the Maritimes," he said.

Burris said he knows bakers are anxious for him to mill again.

The mill will remain open until Oct.15.