But this week the scenery was much more sombre.

It’s a scene we are all too familiar with in Wagga and one that council, the police, residents and community groups have been working on to avoid.

Police, the State Emergency Services, Volunteer Rescue Association and ambulance personnel were at Wagga Beach on Sunday night and returned on Monday to search for a missing man.

The 28-year-old went into the water on Sunday night and did not resurface.

The initial reaction is to expect the worst but we cling onto hope that he will be found, alive and safe.

Unfortunately during summer we have become accustomed to bracing for impact, expecting to hear of a drowning or someone going missing near the river.

We hope or pray for a good outcome but it’s not always the case.

What becomes more and more obvious every time is the efficiency and speedy response of emergency service teams.

They often work early mornings and late nights, searching in scorching heat or freezing cold for our loved ones.

They lose sleep in order to make sure our family and friends sleep easier.

The right people are definitely in that job.

Whatever the outcome of this incident (which was unknown at the time of publication), maybe something good can come from it.

Because how many others have to go missing and cause a fright, or lose their life, for authorities to realise the beach is a problem area?

Even the most experienced swimmer can succumb to accidents, snags, high current or unexpectedly cold temperatures.

Moves have been made lately to explore just exactly what the options are for river safety.

Closing The Rocks, which has already been proposed, is not one of them.

It’s time to stop exploring and start implementing programs, learn to swim classes at the river (much like students at St Michael’s used to do) or lifeguards.

The beach is too scenic and too precious of an asset to our city for people to be too frightened to use it.