The Regional Municipality of York is moving one step closer to a sewage capacity solution as the province has indicated satisfaction with the proposed project.
At provincial direction, York Region has advanced plans to expand sewage infrastructure to the Duffin Creek plant in Durham Region, which lets out into Lake Ontario. The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks wrote to the region April 22 that it is satisfied with the reports made for the project.
The project aims to address sewage capacity changes for Newmarket and surrounding municipalities, allowing them to accommodate future growth.
“The York Region Sewage Works Project is absolutely critical to ensure water and wastewater services are available to meet anticipated future population growth in York Region and Durham Region,” York Region chair and CEO Wayne Emmerson said in a May 3 news release. “We look forward to continuing to work with senior levels of government to secure investments, expedite approvals and ensure infrastructure is in place to build housing needed in our communities.”
The project has been in the planning works since late 2022 when the province ended the region’s planned northern sewage solution. Since then, the York Region has worked toward an expansion of existing infrastructure to go south instead.
The letter from Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks Andrea Khanjin said that the reports are to her satisfaction and allow the region to proceed. However, the letter does not represent provincial funding commitment or “any required provincial approvals.”
York Region submitted the draft project report to the ministry in October 2023, outlining components and costs, environmental impact and impact mitigation. A final project report was then submitted to the minister in March 2024.
The project consists of three different phases. The first phase of the project has a preliminary estimated cost of $515 million and the region hopes to complete it by 2028, but more expansions would follow after that.
Richmond Hill Mayor and region public works chair David West said residents expect municipalities to provide critical wastewater services.
“I am pleased to see the robust project report captured interested persons, Indigenous communities and the public’s valuable feedback, and is committed to continuing to engage the community every step of the way,” West said.
You can find more information at york.ca/SewageProject.
