In an interview with The Age one year on from the state election, Mr Guy has also given the strongest indication yet that the Coalition will revisit the East West Link as part of its 2018 election pitch, suggesting the impact from the project could be softened with a longer tunnel.

"We want to take the East West Link to the next election," Mr Guy said. "I think if you are going to have an integrated transport agenda you can't ignore the need for the East West Link and whether it is a longer tunnel ... the point is you need that link between the Western Ring Road, the Tullamarine Freeway and the Eastern Freeway."

Mr Guy said he accepted that a strong focus on public transport was also needed. But he accused Labor of ignoring motorists, predicting in the not too distant future electric cars would become viable for families, changing the environmental and planning debate.

His comments follow several years of controversy surrounding the project, culminating in revelations the Andrews government spent at least $657 million to cancel the contract after the Coalition signed a secret deal locking the project in just weeks before the election.

Adding more tunnel would almost certainly add to the cost, potentially making it even harder to financially justify.

Mr Guy said with the city's population continuing to rapidly expand, it was time for a discussion involving the community, businesses and political leaders.

He said one solution was to shift the burden of population growth to regional cities, hinting that policies such as zone taxation or other incentives to encourage growth in regional cities would be considered.

"I think there has got to be a genuine community, business and governance discussion about how we really focus on building the population of our regions, because I am very, very sure that the four-and-a-half million people of Melbourne think ... our city is bursting," Mr Guy said. "Can you imagine it with another million people on top of this, as it will be within 15 years time?"

In a wide-ranging discussion, Mr Guy also said the introduction of congestion pricing - using real-time technology to charge motorists depending on the level of traffic - to better manage roads - should be considered.

"I don't think that is at all outside of the realm of possibility," he said. "I think people are working different hours now, some people starting very early now and finishing mid afternoon, and vice versa. The way our society operates is going to be far more 24-hour."

Asked if he could replicate Labor's achievement by winning after one term, Mr Guy said politics had become far more volatile in recent years, predicting the election would be competitive. But he said he needed to remind himself of the old adage that politics is a marathon not a sprint.

"I am someone who wants to do everything and do it immediately, and that is just my personality. You can't burn yourself out, and you've got to pace yourself and it is another three years to pace yourself."