Your screen was the instant solution to that area, in my mind, I realize you want different ideas, but keeping it consistent will make sense of the front screen and create a contemporary character. I would suggest adding a black shade cloth stapled to the back of he slatted screen to help conceal some of these services though, and perhaps a low line charcoal planter with an espaliered tree, perhaps a miniature lemon or lime, or a hedge of rosemary-I noticed it's next to your BBQ, so you could do this screen with a modification, that is larger battens on the front say every 450 up the front, top fixing a 150mm wide shelf. Cut out some holes for those small galvanized buckets, tiny ones in places like kmart or bunnings and plant out a wall of herbs. This will screen your water tank beautifully.

It is unfortunate that Ficus Hillii hybrids are being pushed by landscapers. The root system of all ornamental figs is bad. The Flash variety is just a smaller version of Ficus microcarpa which is a massive tree. They ALL have roots that cause severe structural damage to homes, pools, driveways, walls etc. As a very experienced garden designer, I have seen too many instances of considerable structural problems caused by this plant family. Beware.

Hi Jen I don't see them not raising the ground level to your fence, either way make sure they do the retaining walls before the rains start. If they replace the fence, that should be paid by them 100%. However I worried by your 3rd photo it looks like they haven't keyed the ground prior to the fill? ...you don't want slippage, remember Thredbo! If your block is big enough, here's some trees, beware of fast growing trees as they tend to be huge. http://www.citywide.com.au/mobile/blog/treescapers/2014/08/15/10-australian-native-trees http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/in-the-garden/trees-and-palms/trees-other-plants-to-avoid/#.WJsiiXQZ7qA Don't plant too close to retaining walls.

If your concerned about the screens not looking quite right with the house or railings, or if you dont have the budget for an expensive screen, you could also consider a growing an easy maintenance, fast growing vine like Star Jasmine over a less expensive screen and training it a little way through the railing to tie them both in. Star Jasmine will grow happily in a pot and will cover everything, hiding all sins! It will also give you a lovely green outlook, complete privacy and the scent of the flowers on a summer night is intoxicating. I have star jasmine covering two totally different 2m high cheap screens (one lattice and one rio metal bar) in my courtyard which separates my yard from my neighbours and it provides a gorgeous leafy outlook with total privacy and covers the screens entirely from base to top so you cannot see the unattractive lattice or rio behind it and all it needs is the occasional trim.