@ deanli14...the problem is that the neighbours don't want the tennis court fence as it is..more they want it lowered...thus depriving johnmcintyre of his privacy and the local Council is dictating what can and cannot be done....its not about planting for privacy...quite the reverse, the neighbours want the view! I've had an idea that might help. It is my understanding that today anyone wanting to build or alter any structure can employ a private building surveyor/inspector to approve the plans and then the final structure...and I understand that this applies everywhere in Australia. So there is a way to by-pass all the nonsense. The Council does not have to know about or approve anything. You are employing (paying) a private building surveyor/inspector to help you get what you want on your own property. I think its all got beyond a joke. Just by-pass all the red tape and the neighbours! I've extended my house to incorporate a very large semi enclosed veranda, I've had a large water tank erected on a tall stand so it gravity feeds into my house..and have erected several 3m tall greenery covered screens along my fenceline adjoining the neighbours.. for reasons of privacy.....all without the local Council even knowing about it because I employed a private building surveyor for it all from start to finish. You would be paying him to be on your side and get you what you want and he does not have to submit to Council, he is his own boss and your client. You'd need to get a draftsman to draw up the plans to start with...then it should be smooth sailing.

OP, you should also consider energy efficiency & comfort. It's great that you appear to have north facing living areas (with a high proportion of glazing facing this direction). But looking at the elevation picture, it appears you may have too much glass. Overglazing can result in a home that becomes uncomfortably hot, even in winter! This is very dependent on your location & climate. Cooler climates need more exposed north facing glass, & exposed thermal mass (concrete or masonry) to absorb that solar radiation. Warmer climates require less exposed north facing glass & thermal mass, particularly hot humid climates, where exposed thermal mass can be very detrimental. In these climates it's important that northern glass is shaded, even in winter of glass areas are too high. As there's no floor plan, & you haven't mentioned your location, it's hard to tell if you've overglazed with exposed northern glass. Read the following site, & consider your glazing to floor area & glazing to mass ratios. http://yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/thermal-mass

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Cheers -- we love it ! One of those places -- as soon as we drove in and parked , we looked at each other and smiled -- just a good feeling before we had even gone inside , and at this stage there's nothing we're in a hurry to change . Just expanding on that though , hasn't the internet changed house buying ? We had obviously already seen the online pics of this house , and lots of others in our general price and location criterias , so to drive in and get a really good feeling , when we already had an idea of the interior , pool , etc , must help the real estate agents etc . Remember the old days when you would pull up outside somewhere with a shocking colour scheme or horrible interior etc , and have to be polite while the real estate agent is showing you around , then asking if you are keen to put in an offer ? Anyway , I digress , and we are on the outskirts of Hamilton ( New Zealand ) .