Hi there, having recently been through a similar decision process for our Reno I can really recommend ordering the Dulux A4 samples. They are made with the real paint on them so you can move them around from room to room to see exactly what it will look like without having a heap of swatches painted on the wall. They have a sticker backing but I used blu-tac so 8 could move them over and over. Good luck

On closer inspection I've determined the north facing windows (30º west) don't need extra shading, but the easterly kitchen & laundry need exterior vertical drop blinds, the morning Queensland sun has plenty of bite. The south & south-west bay windows need partial angled exterior blinds, but will include the south-east bay for symmetry. One westerly Master window sharing a corner with a southerly ensuite window I considered a small shade sail, but as there is a garden bed there I think maybe a horizontal slat panel as a frame for climbing plant, hinged for maintenance access & climbers rooted at the hinge side(s). Finally a fixed decorative screen outside a westerly garage window near the front door.

It might be worth looking further into breeze / besser blocks. This company in Melbourne - http://www.breezeblocks.com.au/ or this one in Sydney - http://www.besserblockcentre.com.au/bellevue_hill_blocks.html create custom blocks. The pool safety requirements have certain dimensions to follow, so maybe you can have your dream feature wall while still abiding by the regulations. For example you could have blocks with a vertical or other pattern that did not allow for foot or hand holds. For example:

Thank you again to everyone for your suggestions, almost all of which have great merit. On reflection, I think removing the old fence is fraught with potential drama, not the least of which is if the idiot neighbour decides to remove the screen which is wholly within his property, we are left without a fence. Many of you seem to have difficulty understanding my reluctance to force the removal of the illegal screen. In an ideal world that is what should happen but as I have already explained my health is up the creek at the moment (never underestimate the effect a tiny mosquito can have on your previously rather pleasant life) and I have learned the hard way with a previous neighbour in another State that councils have limited power and/or care factor when it comes to issues such as this. A threatening letter with no follow up, which was what happened with another non-life threatening issue several years ago ended in an enemy being made with whom I had to live side by side until eventually I sold my house. I am thinking of using several suggestions which will mean bolting new uprights to my side of the existing fence and attaching a lightweight screen of some sort and growing a creeper or preferably a tree in the existing garden bed to the right of the bench which will help replace what we have lost (we being me and the king parrots). Thank you to Bill for the links to the Bunnings screens, I’m heading in there tomorrow to have a closer look. Again, thank you to all!