One of West Wimmera Shire's successful candidates says recovery from COVID-19 will be the new council's major challenge.

Trevor Domaschenz, who has been elected for a second four-year term, said housing and attracting industry would be key to this recovery.

"Population and voter decline is ongoing: We had 200 fewer votes cast at this election," he said.

"It's not economic decline, but it does make it a challenge maintaining our community clubs. We need to change the West Wimmera Planning Scheme to allow smaller subdivisions: We have unprecedented demand for smaller blocks that can't satisfy due to planning regulations."

Victorian Electoral Commission data shows there were 3477 people eligible to vote in the West Wimmera Shire at the 2020 election, down from 3879 in 2016.

Mr Domaschenz said the proposed West Grampians Rural Pipeline and value adding to agriculture could also convince people to move to the West Wimmera.

"In my four years on the last council, we have become further isolated from Melbourne and Horsham than when I started," he said.

Jodie Pretlove, who received the most first preference votes of any candidate, said the appointment of a new chief executive was her number one priority.

"I will continue to advocate for improved access for technology and digital connectivity, particularly in the current times, and I think supporting tourism will be vital," she said.

"Our mental health outreach program will need to continue, and I'll also be focused on completing the town sewer in Goroke, and continuing to improve our road network."

Ms Pretlove said she would stand for mayor at Friday's statutory meeting at which councillors will elect the leader.

The council's new face, Tim Meyer, is the son of fellow councillor Bruce Meyer. The younger Meyer said the duo spent Wednesday driving around the shire to acquaint him with community priorities outside his home in Kaniva.

"He pointed out a few things in certain towns like Goroke and Edenhope where footpaths are missing and playgrounds, issues raised with the council," Mr Meyer said.

"He's been able to introduce me to a lot of staff and get me up to speed on a few of the issues which has a been a help. I think we will be a good group of councillors: I think we were all elected because we are quite selfless and that we will work quite well together."

Mr Meyer said the key council issues for ratepayers continue to be roads and rubbish.

Update 12pm:

The new council will meet on Friday to elect a mayor. The meeting will be at 10am in Kaniva and members of the public can watch a livestream of the meeting via Council's website.

10.30am: There will be a fresh face on West Wimmera Shire Council following the 2020 Local Government Election.

Kaniva's Tim Meyer has been elected to the municipality with 13.68 per cent of all first-preference votes, the only person elected not to have served on the most recent council.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has published the election results on its website.

Mr Meyer enters the council at the expense of Richard Hicks, who only received 6.35 per cent of first preferences.

Former West Wimmera Shire Council mayor Jodie Pretlove has earned the most first-preference votes of the six candidates re-elected with 32.92 per cent, nearly twice as much as the next highest polling candidate Bruce Meyer (19 per cent).

Also elected to council for the next four years are Tom Houlihan (14.3 per cent) and Trevor Domaschenz (13.57 per cent).

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Two thousand seven hundred and eighty West Wimmera residents voted at the election, only ten of these voting informally. This represents a turnout of just under 80 per cent, up from a turnout of 77.26 per cent four years ago.

More to come.

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