Something to remember with any decking is whether your metal fixings and brackets are suited to your environment... Depending on the deck support structure and the timber or composite you end up using: its good to remember that not only can natural timber rot, but brackets and fixings, particularly around pools and coastal areas, can deteriorate. These two posts on our website maybe of interest: Are There Special Requirements For Building Near The Coast? Timber Decking Around Your Pool? Are You Planning A Saltwater Pool?

Hi Gallifrey, I did think of the side idea but the front window would be in the W.I R if I was to put it there, the patio is eventually going to be turned into another liveable section of the home

I'm assuming the deck/pool level is already retained by a retaining wall of some sort? Could the fence be built on that? Or you could mimic the retainer wall and build the fence on that? I'm doubtful you will find a fencing product that can go to 3m. For graffiti proofing you could do just lap and cap treated pine timber fencing- paint your side, leave the other side. Grow a vine-plant on the other side to deter graffiti. There is no 100% way of preventing it. Kids typically don't like spray painting onto timber, it's rough and absorbant (uses lots of paint). Avoid colourbond!. Some photos would be useful if you want more suggestions from others.

Sasha, so you have an image of the building envelope you can use? How big is it? As it's a rural block, so you have a bit of leeway trying to orientate your home correctly? I'm assuming that by 'west facing', you mean the living areas must face west? That is the long sides of the home will have west & east? If this is the case I'd recommend the bedrooms face east (& south). As you really don't want western facing bedrooms, as they can get extremely hot on summer evenings, just before you go to bed. In this case it's better to have the living areas to the west (better than bedrooms anyway), & north if possible. As northern living areas will be lighter, & warmer in winter. I would definitely consider a western verandah to shade western living areas. Possibly with western deciduous climbers to offer shade in summer, allowing light in winter. Planting larger trees to shade the home from the west of possible. If, by 'west facing', if you mean a western frontage, this can be ideal for passive solar design. With the long sides of the home facing north (living areas) & south (bedrooms). But this is a more urban setup for a western frontage. I guess in a rural setting the home usually faces the frontage, ie. you already a wide home, not a narrow home. If this is the reason the home will face west - ie. not because of a limited building envelope, but so it faces the driveway - I would certainly reconsider this approach, orientating the home (& living areas to the north). oklouise has tried to link an extremely useful website, but for the link wrong I think. It's the Your Home website. A government website about building sustainable energy efficient homes, https://www.yourhome.gov.au/ I'd recommend reading it all. But start with passive design & orientation, to get your head around orientating your home correctly if it's possible. Then read up on design for climate, to see what's appropriate in your climate (if you're inland you probably want to have higher levels of internal thermal mass). Then continue to read the rest. There's extremely useful information in there.