a report presented to the council at its June meeting.

It stated urgency was needed for the state government to develop intermodal terminals - where containers are shifted from trains to trucks and vice versa - to reduce the number of truck trips in areas close to the port.

The government predicts an annual eight million containers will be handled at the Port of Melbourne, four times the current number, by 2035.

The government has called for expressions of interest from the shipping industry on new ways to expand container capacity at the port.

Redevelopment of Webb Dock is being considered an option.

In response to the government's April discussion paper Shaping Melbourne's Freight Future, the council urged the development of more metropolitan intermodal terminals, with a focus on expanded train traffic close to the port.

A network of hubs could almost halve the number of trucks entering and exiting the port.

Work on strengthening Shepherd Bridge, due to start later this year, will see larger trucks, known as high productivity freight vehicles, used on Yarraville truck routes. The use of more such trucks which carry larger loads is seen as a way to reduce overall truck traffic, but they would need to be put on designated heavy truck routes to limit their impact on the area's roads and neighbourhoods.

The council report states: "... a failure to deliver these facilities in the medium term will result in a substantial loss of amenity to the city".

Council infrastructure services acting general manager Jenny McMahon said: "Improving the liveability and amenity of our residential suburbs is a priority for council".

A congestion charge for trucks and road-side cameras to enforce use of preferred truck routes are also concepts that could be part of the council's transport strategy, which will be reviewed this year.

Government spokesman Chris Owner said having consulted the industry, the government was looking at sites to the west of Melbourne rather than at Donnybrook/Beveridge. "The government understands people are concerned about trucks on our roads, which is why it is building a better and a more efficient freight system."

However, that can only be delivered with money from the private sector and one option is the government would own the land for a transport hub, with the pick-up and delivery operations contracted to the private sector.