The RPS sets out the significant resource management issues for the Canterbury region and how local government will respond to these. The review began in 2006 and the team is aiming to have a reviewed RPS for notification in mid 2010.

The PIE project will establish the systems and tools to monitor the implementation of Environment Canterbury's Resource Management Act (RMA) plans, and make data available for statutory plan evaluation and strategic planning under the Local Government Act.
 
In terms of general policy, the Section has recently provided comment on such things as: the RMA reforms; the Proposed National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation; the Proposed National Environmental Standard for Electricity Transmission; and the Proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.