Councillor appears in court

A City of Karratha councillor has appeared in court today charged with disorderly behaviour.

Cr Robin Klaas Vandenberg appeared at Karratha Magistrates Court accused of disorderly behaviour in public under the Criminal Code for an alleged incident on February 26.

Mr Vandenberg did not enter a plea but indicated he intended to plead guilty.

He sought a one-month adjournment to receive legal advice from his Perth-based lawyer over worries he could end up with a criminal record.

However, Magistrate Robert Young said he was prepared to grant Mr Vandenberg a spent conviction for the charge as he had no prior record.

Police prosecutor John Hart said he would be unopposed to a spent conviction.

Mr Vandenberg will re-appear in the magistrates court in several weeks’ time.

As well as serving on the council, Mr Vandenberg is also the National Party Karratha branch president, vice-president of the KDCCI executive board, and a member of a number of other local boards and club committees.

Cr Vandenberg’s council seat will come up for re-election in 2017.