The project owner is generally the builder of a building or construction project and is required to pay the CITF levy on the estimated (GST inclusive) building and construction cost, before obtaining building approval, or if no building approval is required, before commencing construction. However, if at the time of paying the CITF Levy on a building or construction project that you own or are developing, you have not appointed a builder or developer then you, the “Property Owner” will be deemed to be the Project Owner of the building and construction project, even though you subsequently appoint a builder.
Therefore in most cases the Project Owner will be the builder. If a builder has not been appointed at the time of paying the Levy then the Property Owner will be the Project Owner.
Excerpt from the Construction Industry Training Fund Act 1993:
project owner in respect of building or construction work, means—
(a) if a person has been engaged (other than as an employee) to carry out, or to cause to be carried out (including by the use of one or more subcontractors) all, or substantially all, of the building or construction work associated with a particular project—that person;
(b) in any other case—the person for whose direct benefit the building or construction work exists on its completion
For a full description of the Project Owner, click here.