PORT Stephens Council has been delivered some harsh criticism on its road maintenance with 40.9 per cent of residents rating the council's performance as "not at all well" in a recent survey.
It is not the only area to cop a poor rating in the council's 2012 customer service satisfaction survey, with councillors' communication also being raked over the coals.
But the council did excel in the "facilities" section which included public toilets, playground equipment, swimming pools and leisure centres with libraries and sport and recreation both securing an overall confidence rating above 90 per cent.
They are results which have two councillors Bruce MacKenzie and mayor Bob Westbury divided. Cr MacKenzie said he was "not surprised" with the residents feedback on roads agreeing "100 per cent" that they were unsatisfactory because money was being wasted on other projects.
"We are still doing Santa Claus duties...airy fairy things that have nothing to do with local government," he said.
But Cr Westbury disagreed saying often residents confused what was the state's roads responsibilities and what was the council's.
"There are a lot of whinging about Nelson Bay Road.. well it's a state road," he said.
"I've been around a while and a lot of people haven't got what's councils, what's the states...its a very fine line."
He said many council's outside of the Sydney area had the same criticism and you could not keep everyone happy.
"It's [the council] not perfect but we haven't built a perfect world yet," he said.
As far as councillor's communication, where 170 of 308 surveyed stated councillors communication in the neighbourhood as "not very well" or "poor", Cr MacKenzie said he thought the findings were "a load of rubbish" saying he spoke to constituents often.
"People know where I stand...I don't sugar coat things," he said.
Cr Westbury said while he could not comment on all of the ward councillors he believed those in east ward had built strong and approachable relationships with residents in the area.
"I'm gathering information every day," he said.
But he did say he could understand how those residents on the outer lying areas such as Clarence Town and Seaham, where there was no main, town centre as such could feel out of touch. Overall a total of 362 responses were received with the majority of residents taking part residing in Raymond Terrace. Cr Westbury said compared to last year there had been an improvement in a number of areas and he was "excited" with the results.