STEPS are being taken to prepare Woodend, Macedon and Mount Macedon for the coming summer which is predicted to be one of Victoria's worst fire seasons.
The three towns were among 52 locations across the state listed last week as most vulnerable to bushfires following the release of an interim report of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
Macedon Ranges Mayor John Letchford said the council had already started its preparations for the coming season with contractors awarded new three-year contracts for roadside slashing within townships and a review under way on strategic firebreaks across the shire.
The council will use a new resource known as REDIPlan to increase bushfire awareness and readiness among seniors, families and children.
It will work with aged-care providers to have plans in place for emergencies including evacuation plans.
Cr Letchford said while it was no surprise Woodend, Mount Macedon and Macedon were considered hot spots, the council had used local knowledge to identify a number of other localities, such as Bullengarook, that could also be potential hot spots in the shire.
"The CFA is developing township protection plans and we will work closely with them and our communities on priority plans for high-risk locations," he said.
The commission report made 51 recommendations for changes after over 1200 submissions were received.
Among the recommendations were changes to the stay-or-go policy, improved and clearer bushfire warning systems, the introduction of town protection plans and the re-introduction of refuges or 'neighbourhood safer places' at car parks, dam walls or sports grounds.
Premier John Brumby said work was already under way on the bulk of measures recommend in the report.
A final Royal Commission report is due on July 31 next year.
While the Macedon Ranges remained mostly unscathed during this year's horror fire season, there were bushfires in the shires north around Redesdale, Baynton and Sidonia. Bushfires also threatened the townships of Woodend and Malmsbury in January, causing damage to property and livestock.
Cr Letchford said the interim report would help the council plan and prepare its communities as it worked closely with the Government and the CFA to reduce fire risks for the coming season.
"The council will assist the State Government with the implementation of its neighbourhood safer places program to be in place before the coming fire season.
"The CFA is leading this initiative and is developing principles and criteria for identifying neighbourhood safer places."
It will also investigate the need for 'Hot Day Out' day centres where residents who choose to leave early can go on days of extreme fire danger.
The council will offer a free disposal of clean green waste products service at the Romsey, Woodend and Kyneton transfer stations in November and December.
Mother of two Nadine Hartnett, who lives in Woodend, said the threat of fire had become very real last summer.
"Being in the town and not out on a bush block, you tend to feel you are secure. That security is no longer with us."
She welcomed the interim report's findings, including the use of warning alarms and sirens and refuges.
"Psychologically, knowing that there is a safe refuge to go to in the town is a good thing," she said.
"I think the clearest message that has come out is to leave early. We will be looking at the forecast and staying with friends in Melbourne or renting a hotel room in Melbourne. When you have little kids you have to think about them."
Mt Macedon CFA group officer Brad Jepsen said residents should act now to ensure their properties were fire-safe.
"People need to start preparing their properties as much as they can now by looking for any litter or dead leaves that can be gathered and burnt off while conditions are still safe," he said.
"We are getting high winds now and they are bringing tree branches down. People need to get on top of those now, get them cleared up and taken off to council for mulching or burnt off."
He said CFA region 14, which includes much of the Macedon Ranges, had for the first time employed two facilitators to help with the development of town protection plans.
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