Further details of the Government's plans to reform the Resource Management Act (RMA) have been released.

A parliamentary select committee is currently holding marathon sessions considering the first piece of legislation and Environment Minister Nick Smith today outlined the second phase of reforms.

Speaking at a conference in Rotorua, Dr Smith said the first phase was intended to address excessive bureaucracy, costs and delays of the RMA and the legislation would be passed by July.

"Further reforms are needed to improve the economic and environmental outcomes of the Act," Dr Smith said.

The second phase would be more complex with ten related work streams.

The work would include:

* Greater central Government direction to improve management of aquaculture, infrastructure, urban design and water;

* developing the scope, functions and structure of the proposed Environmental Protection Authority;

* alignment of the RMA with Building, Conservation, Forests, and Historic Places Act; and

* further reform of RMA process too complex to be included in the current bill before Parliament.

Dr Smith said the work would proceed at a more modest pace than the current legislation and involve a number of advisory groups and opportunities for public consultation.