Aurora property owners are among those affected by York Region‘s latest move to secure land for a major sewage system expansion. On May 25, 2026, the region filed applications to take permanent and temporary rights to use private land in Aurora, Newmarket, and East Gwillimbury for the North York Durham Sewage System (North YDSS) Expansion Program.
The applications, signed by Eric Bjornson, Manager of Realty Services at York Region, ask for permission to place sanitary sewer pipes on parts of certain properties. The region needs permanent easements, which last forever, and temporary easements that would end five years after they are registered. This is all part of the larger York Region Sewage Works Project, a long-term plan to handle wastewater from growing communities.
Unlike typical land takings, property owners cannot request a formal hearing before York Region Council. A 2022 provincial law, the Supporting Growth and Housing in York and Durham Regions Act, removes that step for this project. Still, anyone who loses land or rights to use their land can seek compensation under the Expropriations Act.
The work in Aurora is part of a bigger push to connect northern York Region to the Duffin Creek Water Pollution Control Plant in Pickering. The first phase of the North YDSS expansion has a preliminary price tag of $515 million and is expected to be finished in 2028. Overall, York Region has set aside $4.64 billion for water and wastewater projects in its current ten-year capital plan.
York Region’s public notice lists seven groups of properties across the three towns. For properties in Aurora and Newmarket, the affected land is described as parts of Lots 86, 87, and 88 in Concession 1. Owners who want more details or need to discuss compensation can contact the region.
