Of more than 1200 submissions received, there were 485 lodged about fuel reduction, Department of Sustainability and Environment and prescribed burning - more than any other topic.

Macedon Ranges Mayor John Letchford said the issue of roadside clearing needed to be addressed.

He said he had raised the issue at a meeting of state ministers and other councils last week.

"Because we are surrounded by so much state and national forest there's a state responsibility for the DSE. It is not incumbent on local government to clean up the area. The council does not have the financial or human resources to shoulder the burden.''

He said there was only about two months before the fire season started.

"But the question is, can we afford to wait any longer for this action to start? It's a lot better to have preventive measures in place, so we can clean up and minimise the risk."

Cr Letchford said the Macedon Ranges community was doing its part by cleaning up gutters and conducting small burns, but it was the bigger jobs on roadsides that needed resourcing.

Woodend resident Janelle Robbins, who was one of several who contacted the Telegraph earlier this year concerned about a lack of action to clean up overgrown vegetation, said roadside clearing was the main concern of many of her neighbours.

"Everyone I have spoken to is very disappointed it hasn't been addressed. There should be more preventive measures and people should be able to secure and protect their homes from surrounding overhanging trees and dead vegetation."

McEwan MP Fran Bailey said she was disappointed the interim report contained no recommendations on fuel reduction measures.

"Submissions have documented rampant frustration in our communities at the obstacles and complacency to reducing fuel loads that are linked to fire intensity," she said.

"The interim report devotes some attention to fuel reduction concerns but the commission has yet to address this vital issue and make recommendations."

Northern Victoria MP Donna Petrovich echoed concerns that the need for a major fuel load reduction campaign along country roads was not addressed. "With the next fire season on our doorstep, dried-out vegetation remains a real threat and a time bomb waiting to go off again."