The Greens councillor secured 51.67 per cent of votes, while lead challenger and former Christian Democrat Paul Green took 48.33 per cent of votes.

Mr Green congratulated the returning mayor and left shortly after the announcement.

Mayor Amanda Findley was initially elected to Council in September 2008, re-elected in September 2012 and elected as Shoalhaven City Council Mayor in September 2016.

When the returning officer Sam Tooley made the announcement, Cr Findley's supporters cried "we've made history", as four Greens and three Labor party members will likely be elected into council.

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"For the first time ever, the majority of people that are on Shoalhaven City Council would consider themselves on the progressive side of politics rather than the conservative," said Cr Findley.

"With four Greens and three Labor party members - it's a slim majority, but it's a majority nonetheless.

"We did make a commitment to have a bit of an alliance during this term of council to get some really positive stuff done.

"It doesn't mean we'll all vote the same way all the time. But it does mean there are things that we are aligned on and we can work to make it better for the community."

While it was a tight race, Cr Findley remained in the lead throughout the count.

Previously elected as mayor through preference votes, Cr Findley said she decided not to focus on the numbers and wait until the result was officially declared.

"I know that when the button is pushed, the result can change very very quickly," she said. "At the end of the day, that's what democracy is about."

Cr Findley said she is eager to get "straight back to hard work" and has tackling climate change, constructing a second solar farm in the region, solutions for affordable housing and working on the Shoalhaven Riverfront Taskforce high on the agenda.

Shoalhaven City Council CEO Stephen Dunshea also congratulated Cr Findley on her re-election for her second term.

"Mayor Findley has served the community through bushfire, flood, and a pandemic and I know she can be relied upon to lead the Council well in its engagement with the Shoalhaven community," said Mr Dunshea.

Results of the successful candidates for each Ward will be announced in the coming days.

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