Hume Mayor Jack Ogilvie, a key player in establishing the Sunbury Business Network, said it would not rival the SCC, but chamber president Peter Curtis refused to comment.

Cr Ogilvie said the network would be based on an informal structure and aimed at bringing together businesses that did not have a "shopfront".

"There is a cry for business people to get to know each other," he said. "Lots of people I know work from home and don't meet with the mainstream definition of a business.

"More people are running offices from home. It is cheaper and saves on driving to the city."

Cr Ogilvie said the SBN was not at loggerheads with the SCC. The network would provide an opportunity for business people who were not traders to be part of a commerce network.

"I'm told traders don't want to join the chamber because it has quite a bit of 'negativity' towards the council," he said.

"That is what I've been told, whether it is right or wrong, it's up to them."

Cr Ogilvie said the the network would meet quarterly, share ideas, network and "chew the fat".

"We want to get together, have a meal and find new opportunities through business connections.

"I plan to tell the people I know about the SBN and, hopefully, it will grow from there. I reckon we will get between 60 and 80 people at the first meeting that I'm hoping will take place in July."

Mr Curtis claimed the Telegraph was trying to 'politicise' the issue and refused to comment further.