The Indigenous village of Roelands in Western Australia's south-west is a special place for the handful of people who live there.

From the early 1940s it was used as a mission for stolen generations children.

Roelands CEO Les Wallam was just four years old when he first came to the village.

He helped in the fight to reclaim the land 17 years ago.

"We all got together as ex-mission children, those who call this place home, who love this place and still call it home today," he said.

"We all banded together, because the place was put up for auction and we had to move quick."

But now he said there was another fight on his hands, with the approval of a granite quarry on a neighbouring property.

Les Wallam first came to Roelands as a toddler and now calls the village home. ( ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch )

Quarry angers residents

Mining company B&J Catalano has been given approval for the quarry to be set up.

It has angered Roelands residents, who are worried about the future of the settlement.

"So that will be drilling, blasting, crushing and you'd have heavy vehicle trucks and machinery up there making a racket," Mr Wallam said.

"And obviously the water — we're really worried about the water."

One of the major concerns for villagers is run-off from the quarry contaminating the waterways, including the dam that supplies them with fresh drinking water.

Roelands residents are worried the proposed quarry will impact their drinking water. ( ABC South West: )

Resident James Khan grew up learning dreamtime stories of the waterways and their significance to Indigenous Australians.

He said he would fight against the quarry in order protect the water.

"It was a survival kit and it still is today. And if it's destroyed, what's going to happen?" he said.

Roelands is also the home of former AFL footballer Syd Jackson, who returned to the village after spending time at the mission as a child.

"I regard it as my place," he said.

"We need to make sure nothing impinges on our property that's detrimental to the environment, the water and the wildlife in this area."

Residents of the Roelands village say they won't give up in the fight against the quarry. ( ABC South West: Jacqueline Lynch )

Quarry operations to be monitored

B&J Catalano declined to comment but the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation insisted the quarry operations will not impact on the Roelands dam.

The State Administrative Tribunal put several strict conditions on its approval, which will require the company to manage its operations without impacting on the surrounding environment.

It's prompted the Shire of Harvey to sign off on the plan, which it had rejected twice in the past.

Shire President Tania Jackson said the quarry operations will be monitored closely.

"I think with something like this you're always cautious. But we rely on best practice and that the proponent will in fact deliver the outcomes we expect."

Despite the project's approval, residents said they would not stop fighting for the quarry to be shelved.