Traditional owners who support a controversial Northern Territory marine supply base have environmentalist to "stay out of our Tiwi business."
The federal government last week gave the $130 million Port Melville project on the Tiwi Islands the green light without an environmental assessment and fewer conditions than were initially set.
The major offshore oil and gas hub is located in close proximity to a near pristine environment, which is habitat for 38 threatened species - some of which are critically endangered.
But the Tiwi Land Council says the project will provide employment opportunities for locals while meeting environmental standards.
"We are sick and tired of non-Tiwi people, certain media and other organisations telling us what we can and cannot do with our land and inferring that we are not looking after our environment," the TLC said.
"We know where our turtles nest, we know where our land animals live, we know where our sacred sites are and we have shown over thousands of years that we know how to look after our land and sea.
"We implore those out there that like to talk us down and tell us how to live our lives, to stay out of our Tiwi business... and at the same time give our already disadvantaged people the chance and opportunities of life that the rest of Australia take for granted."
The TLC said income from the project will allow its people to fund their own land and sea management.
The deep sea development, 120km north of Darwin, began operating last year without any formal environmental approvals and was waved through by former federal environment minister Greg Hunt.
The Federal Court overturned that decision in October, but Mr Hunt's successor Josh Frydenberg has now granted approval again without any special operating conditions.
In November, the company more than halved the number of ships the port will use per year from 480 to 233.
David Morris of the Environmental Defenders Office NT admits that reduces potential harm to dolphins, whales, dugongs and turtles in the area from boat grounding.
But he adds the decision makes a mockery of Australia's environmental protection laws and sets a dangerous precedent.
"It's a fairly reckless decision to make. You're talking about storing 30 million litres of diesel in an area that's subject to frequent cyclones and a high tidal range," he told AAP.
