Pool attendants at the two Tamworth pools, as well as those in Barraba, Kootingal, Manilla and Nundle have continued to report low numbers.

TRC’s technical officer of swimming pools and projects, Gary Johnson, said this season the number of pool users was 22,500 lower than expected.

“Our pools have recorded the lowest attendances for eight years,” he said.

Under normal summer conditions at this time of the swimming season the pools would usually have had 120,000 people through turnstiles but the 2011-2012 summer has only seen 78,000 go for a dip.

Mr Johnson said by the end of December numbers were 20,000 on the expected number of pool users, it was a similar story on Tuesday when the end of January figures came in.

“We were 22,500 behind,” he said.

“It’s a really unusual summer with the weather, that’s for sure.”

The number of casual pool attendants employed by council had been reduced as a result of the continued poor weather.

“When we don’t have the big crowds, we don’t need to use as many extra people,” he said.

“There have even been days where pools have been closed if they were staffed by casuals alone.”

Earlier this month Kootingal and Manilla pools were closed and Kootingal and Barraba had closed on occasion.

At this stage February has the potential to be a busy month.

If the rains clear and the sun comes out, most schools will stage their annual swimming carnivals.

“Of the next 28 days, 23 are forecast with rain,” Mr Johnson said.

“Trying to squeeze in 20 schools to have their swimming carnivals before the zone carnival is going to be quite a challenge.”.