I'm not entirely sure I follow the issue, but what about a mesh / grille fence?

No real issues with keeping them "clean". No issues with them blocking the breeze. And when they're done in black, they can almost appear to be invisible.

Yes you can have any fencing if it complies with pool fencing laws vertical type fences, glass fences, solid fencing no toe holes, splash proof fencing if on boundaries, gates which swing in the correct direction, no gaps greater than 10 mm near glass pool fence latch types, 1500 mm high latches to other types of gates, no plants with trunks over 10 mm, including vines, no overhanging branches of trees, no taps on side of houses near pool fence, no windows or doors into the pool enclosure off a house unless pool safe types, no rocks that interfere with heights of pool fencing, no steps on rails on pool side for 900 mm if that fence has a neighbouring fence running off in the other yard, and all fencing sits no more than 100 mm off ground, or floor, and it goes on and on, this is where the certifier is worth the money.

Yes if you have a black anything that tends to disappear unless something white is sitting behind.

At the end of the day it's your yard. Yes it's nice to keep the neighbours happy, but if you are legally permitted to do it the way you planned to then do it. My neighbours once raised their house and painted it bright orange, I hated it but couldn't legally do anything about it, so I got over it which is what your neighbours need to do.

my thoughts exactly, as long as you get the certificate that should be the only thing that matters, neighbors come and go. Me i love orange, if it is mixed with white and charcoal and is no a uber contemporary house

This was an old fibro box house, raised on stilts, and it was all orange except the roof. don't live there now thankfully.

maybe a dig at a council not allowing them to do things?

Unfortunately the regulations say that I need to keep the look of the fence. So my options as I see them are:

Extend the existing retaining wall up 600mm with glass ( a pain to keep clean and expensive) or perspex (looks a bit patchy and will deteriorate). Both of which my neighbours don't want. But if that is my only decent option I will do it.

Or extend my own garden/retaining wall up to 1800mm high which may look very imposing so close to the pool and there will be a 600mm void between that fence/wall and the existing one.

I understand the regulations very well. I just don't have the design skill to make a messy situation look like it was always planned that way. i.e. a design feature.

Why the void are you on a steep site, who said you need a void, have you been told that by the person issuing the certificate? is this to separate both pool fences?

1800 retaining wall on your side can have footholds, so that could be polished block, or split face block, basically anything that you think looks good, and there is no reason if it is enclosed in your pool area, less the distance where someone can put a leg through and use that to climb, that this retaining wall can not be featured. say split face to the center or some design and smooth flush finished to the edges. match the two blocks in colour and let the texture give you the design. place some pots for a hanging garden, the sky is the limit, put up a cut metal screen just proud of the retaining wall, go on pinterest and have a look.

That is tricky kazlee, are vertical slats or laser cut panels an option for the top extension?

Bali Style Retreat · More Info

Privacy Screening · More Info

I think trying to access the back between two walls for maintenance would be very hard either for plants or just maintenance...less than ideal IMO. I would also be worried about it being the perfect hidey hole for unwanted critters.

Low maintenance powder coated vertical slats at the top of the existing wall would be my choice. This could have an angled/horizontal top section which might be suitable to grow a vine up & over for privacy/shade & soften the look.

Iron Shade Arbor · More Info

East Village Roof Garden · More Info

I agree with marcros2 opening statement. We got the Council Inspector in to give advice. He was very helpful and gave us plenty of suggestions. He even came back after we got our quotes to check what we had chosen complied.

horizontal anything is a no, the gap would have to be so small it might as well be solid.

yes the vertical cable might pass but you are not allowed to be able to squeeze them together as then the gap distance is non complying, The safest one is the solid section PCA pool fence, or glass, or solid, to 1200 mm in Queensland, no greater than 100 mm off ground, and gaps not able to be manipulated, and to stop that you have to have horizontal section in the cable type, which then do not comply, cut metal screens if complying is OK.

I would question the void, and if you know the reason for the void, than solutions will be able to be worked out, now we are asking why? Pools in adjoining yards are acceptable with pool fencing complying on both sides, no void is required. so the void sound a bit iffy, unless it is something to do with storm water, or a building requirement, so ask the question why.