Tom Elliott has savaged the City of Yarra over its push to drive up the cost of swimming lessons by almost 45 per cent.

The council has released its draft budget for the upcoming year, with the surging cost of using local pools capturing Tom Elliott’s eye.

The cost of a swimming lesson in the City of Yarra will go from $31.10 to $44.90.

“How can you justify this? Swimming is not just a leisure activity, it’s a life skill, and this just might stop some parents giving their kids swimming lessons,” Tom Elliott said.

“It is utterly ridiculous.”

Councillor Stephen Jolly said he’d be voting against it and community backlash had been strong.

“The council is very happy to talk all the time about public health and encouraging people to be active, but this is cutting across those principles,” he said.

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