Political shock waves from the aborted Dubbo Indoor Sports Hub funding fiasco are continuing to reverberate, following the release of correspondence over the issue.

The promised $50 million funding offer for the project was abruptly cancelled late last year after cost blow-outs, plan and site changes, and “scope” revisions made the proposal untenable, the State Government said.

Now, the NSW Opposition is calling on the Minns Government to investigate claims that a key figure in the debacle, Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty yelled at a staff member in her department over funding for the Dubbo Sports Hub.

The accusations were made in an email chain released as part of an order for papers in the Legislative Council.

The correspondence also allegedly outlines that “Minister Moriarty set a deadline for payment” for the NSW Office of Sport (OOS) to return the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s (DPIRD) $33 million contribution to the project.

NSW Nationals Leader and State member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said the minister needs to “come clean” about the situation.

“All staff and public servants need to be treated with respect, and we need Minister Moriarty to clarify exactly what has happened here because there’s no question this type of behaviour is completely out of order,” Mr Saunders said.

“When the premier was asked about this, he said action would be taken if the claims are true, so we need to know what he is doing to get to the bottom of this and exactly what that action will look like.”

The documents also revealed there was a viable option on the table for the Dubbo Sports Hub to proceed, with the PCYC putting forward a proposal to purchase and renovate an existing facility to replace the green field site at Charles Sturt University.

The plan was supported by the Office of Sport, the Commercial Legal Team at DPIRD, and also received in principle support by Minister for Sport Stephen Kamper before Minister Moriarty revoked the funding.

“What these documents show is both departments acknowledged there was a path forward before Minister Moriarty seemingly went against all advice and pulled the plug,” Mr Saunders said.

“It’s further confirmation this decision was a political one, and it’s a cruel blow to our local basketball, gymnastics, and netball groups, as well as local kids who need somewhere to go,” he concluded.