It is a legislative requirement for council to identify, designate and assess NSPs in accordance with the Country Fire Authority Act 1958.

In accordance with section 50J of the Act Council conducted a review of each designated NSP prior to August 31, 2014 and requested the CFA assess the NSPs in accordance with the Assessment Guideline criteria.

Ararat Rural City Council currently has six sites designated as NSPs:

Ararat - Ararat Town Hall, car park surrounds. Corner of Barkly Street and Vincent Street.

Elmhurst - Elmhurst Mechanics Institute, footpath and forecourt in front. 34 High Street (Pyrenees Highway) between Elmhurst - Glenpatrick Road and Degraves Street Elmhurst.

Lake Bolac - Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve, netball courts. Lake Bolac Complex Road Lake Bolac.

Moyston - Moyston Recreation Reserve. Corner Moyston - Great Western Road and Ararat - Halls Gap Road Moyston.

Streatham - Streatham Memorial Hall, footpath and forecourt in front. 30 Campbell Street (Glenelg Highway) Streatham.

Willaura - Willaura Memorial Hall, footpath and car park in front. Main Street (opposite Commercial Street) Willaura.

The CFA has found the six sites to meet the assessment guidelines, with four rural NSPs at Lake Bolac, Willaura, Streatham and Moyston requiring prescribed treatments to maintain the vegetation to 100mm over the fire danger period.

The vegetation prescriptions will be maintained by the Infrastructure Operations Department.

Cr Gwenda Allgood said the annual review and assessment of the Ararat Rural City's NSPs enhances community preparedness for a place of last resort during a fire.

"Identifying these locations was a very important subject, more so for the smaller communities across the municipality," she said.

Cr Allgood said establishment of the most appropriate locations came after a lengthy period of consultation.

"Three or four years ago, the idea of where they (CFA) wanted to have their place of assembly was totally different to what the community wanted," she said.

"The CFA where very up front and said if you're not happy about what we want, we'll come and talk it through with you, we'll discuss it and we'll actually listen to you and that's exactly what they've done.

"It is not only the CFA's document, it belongs to every small community and council had a very strong say in the whole thing when it was being processed.

"Hopefully we never have to use it, it's just a really good thing we've been able to come to a consensus on where the best places are."