But after the election Panthers Group, which earned $66 million in revenue from poker machines in 2018, said it was not financially viable to build an indoor sports centre.

Instead, it proposed the Western Sydney Community and Conference Centre (WSCCC) which included a hotel, serviced apartments, and parking for 500 cars underground, estimated to cost $88 million in total.

The Herald revealed earlier this year that in the lead up to the 2019 state election, Mr Ayres pushed for the $12 million grant, with no relevance to his portfolio, to go to Panthers, leaked documents confirm.

A month before the 2019 election Mr Ayres announced the turning of the first sod on the WSCCC with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.

In response to questions from the Herald about the status of the project, Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher said it is “presently in discussions” to delay building the WSCCC until a vaccine for COVID-19 is found and the Panthers Group is “back trading at full capacity”.

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NSW Labor spokeswoman for sport Lynda Voltz said the NSW grant was questionable from the start.

“Not only are we now not getting the sporting facilities, but it looks like the community centre is on the chopping block,” Ms Voltz said. “It is time for the Member for Penrith [Mr Ayres], who personally pushed this grant, to explain exactly what the public, whose money he has handed over, is getting.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Ayres referred questions to NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey whose spokeswoman said Panthers have received $8.4 million in grant funding so far.

“Panthers Group has advised the NSW government that due to the financial impacts of COVID-19, the project has been placed on hold,” she said. “The balance of the grant will be paid pending construction milestones.”

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The federal government “remains committed” to delivering the WSCCC via the Community Development Grants program, a spokesman for Mr McCormack said.

“So far, $3 million of $12 million of federal funding has been paid,” he said. “The Australian government will continue to work closely with the grantee, Penrith Rugby League Club Ltd, to appropriately revise the delivery timeframe.”

A worker on the project, who wished to remain anonymous said the builder, Richard Crookes, was told to complete the car park before Christmas.

“We have been instructed to build the car park as if the hotel is being built at a later date,” the worker said. Richard Crookes referred questions to Panthers.