The council will use the feedback from the survey to adopt what it has called its customer first approach.

“We're after the truth. It's only by confronting our shortfalls that council will be able to make real improvements,” Port Stephens Council communication section manager Stephen Crowe said.

“The survey will take just five minutes but will make a valuable contribution to the future direction of council's Customer First Framework.”

It asks residents, ratepayers, business operators, tourists and workers to rank the council on its performance when dealing with requests, including “how easy is it to do business with us?”

The survey also gauges people’s preference for communication, including phone, text and web chat. The latter not yet on offer.

Preferred payment methods are also up for discussion and even people’s appetite for a Port Stephens Council app to facilitate communication. 

“We want to hear from residents about the real issues they experience when dealing with council – not just our customer relations team, but across all the 52 business services provided by council,” Mr Crowe said.

“Council is working towards delivering significant improvements in how we deal with customers and deliver services to our community.

“Whether it's the worker fixing the pothole, the children's services team or the library, we want to know how the people of Port Stephens think we can improve their customer experience with council.”

The Customer First Framework survey is open until August 31 at http://haveyoursay.portstephens.nsw.gov.au/customer-first-framework.