I'm very interested in this issue as the full story has not yet been revealed and some people may be tricked out of money. I'd like to know exactly what has gone on and do something about it for anyone who has had problems.
To my knowledge, the building pass is required only for rooms whose booking during schoolies is controlled by BreakFree or building is controlled by them, the company that owns schoolies.com while they control a lot of rooms and buildings, they obviously don't own the entire Gold Coast.
I recommend anyone who has booked through a travel agent and not been informed of this additional cost contact Legal Aid or Fair Trading and describe the situation and complain.
Legal Aid has in past years had a lot to say about BreakFree's practices based on complaints they have got, which have resulted in Fair Trading and the ACCC getting involved to have BreakFree change unfair treatment of young people during schoolies.
Also, I ask that you go to the
National Schoolies Forums (of which I'm admin) and describe the situation there. As a Social Worker, one of the things I do is advocate for schoolies in situations where they are potentially being taken advantage of or ripped off or hurt. Get it on record there if you don't want to go to Legal Aid or Fair Trading and we will get to the bottom of it.
It may just be the case that you have to pay, but the problem I see is you were not told of the additional cost by your travel agent who booked for you via this company in some way or one of their buildings.