Mount Olive residents Darren and Jodie Stephens said pre-planning by the dam’s State Water managers would have prevented the release which disrupted property access for about 10 families.

And a flashing yellow warning light and signs saying “caution water over road” and “road closed” at the site for six days put residents in a difficult situation.

“We left a car on the Singleton side of the causeway so I could get to work and we could get to town, but we were forced to disobey the signs to get across,” Mr Stephens said.

“The water level had dropped from the peak height last Friday, but would we’ve been covered by insurance if there was an accident?”

Mrs Stephens said she contacted State Water about the signs and was told they were put up by Singleton Council.

She contacted Singleton Council and was told State Water officials had directed the council to officially close the road.

The Argus reported on Tuesday this week that the flooded causeway resulted from water having to be released from the dam because it was full and could not hold any run-off from heavy rain last week.

Members of four Mount Olive families who contacted The Argus called for a review of the dam’s water management practices.

State Water media spokesman Tony Webber did not say whether a review would take place.

Mr Webber said yesterday that State Water officials did not tell the council to close the road.

“We’re dam operators,” he said.

“We provide advice on water levels, not road operations or insurance.”

Council spokesman Alan Fletcher said the signs were put up in good faith to make Geary’s Crossing causeway safe after State Water officials notified the council that an enormous amount of water would be released from the dam and there would be localised flooding.

“They are warning signs, not regulatory signs such as stop or speed signs, but I would not encourage people to disobey them,” Mr Fletcher said.

“We try to err on the side of caution, and we removed the signs as soon as we were advised that the releases were finished.”

Mr Stephens said “Closing the road for the best part of a week like this is ridiculous.”